What’s the best part of Eugene?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Eugene are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Eugene neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Oregon and Eugene is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Eugene for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Crest Drive looks to be the best Eugene neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Eugene that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Eugene.
For more Oregon reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Eugene
Population: 5,545
Median Home Value: $415,775 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $87,860 (Second best)
More on Crest Drive: Data | Real Estate
Population: 23,306
Median Home Value: $387,740 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $69,982 (Seventh best)
More on Cal Young: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,618
Median Home Value: $369,000 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $76,480 (Fifth best)
More on Amazon: Data | Real Estate
Population: 8,033
Median Home Value: $355,644 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $66,030 (Eighth best)
More on Friendly Area: Data | Real Estate
Population: 591
Median Home Value: $444,600 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $103,576 (best)
More on Laurel Hill Valley: Data | Real Estate
Population: 17,963
Median Home Value: $302,240 (13th best)
Median Income: $78,920 (Third best)
More on Santa Clara: Data | Real Estate
Population: 11,883
Median Home Value: $315,722 (12th best)
Median Income: $77,774 (Fourth best)
More on Southeast: Data | Real Estate
Population: 15,338
Median Home Value: $347,686 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $62,403 (Tenth best)
More on Harlow: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,368
Median Home Value: $492,350 (Second best)
Median Income: $58,236 (11th best)
More on Fairmount: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,884
Median Home Value: $518,750 (best)
Median Income: $34,684 (18th best)
More on South University: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Eugene, OR Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Eugene, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 21 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Eugene.” We’re lookin’ at you, Crest Drive.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Eugene, Oregon has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Eugene.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Eugene
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Eugene where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Eugene are Crest Drive, Cal Young, Amazon, Friendly Area, Laurel Hill Valley, Santa Clara, Southeast, Harlow, Fairmount, and South University.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Eugene aren’t all good. West Eugene takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Eugene.
The worst neighborhoods in Eugene are West Eugene, Trainsong, Whiteaker, Downtown, and Active Bethel.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Oregon reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Eugene For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crest Drive | 5,545 | $415,775 | $87,860 |
| 2 | Cal Young | 23,306 | $387,740 | $69,982 |
| 3 | Amazon | 1,618 | $369,000 | $76,480 |
| 4 | Friendly Area | 8,033 | $355,644 | $66,030 |
| 5 | Laurel Hill Valley | 591 | $444,600 | $103,576 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | 17,963 | $302,240 | $78,920 |
| 7 | Southeast | 11,883 | $315,722 | $77,774 |
| 8 | Harlow | 15,338 | $347,686 | $62,403 |
| 9 | Fairmount | 4,368 | $492,350 | $58,236 |
| 10 | South University | 3,884 | $518,750 | $34,684 |
| 11 | Industrial Corridor | 3,315 | $323,640 | $70,946 |
| 12 | River Road | 14,597 | $241,664 | $56,380 |
| 13 | Churchill Area | 9,308 | $281,330 | $63,726 |
| 14 | Jefferson Westside | 6,822 | $292,462 | $35,544 |
| 15 | Far West | 4,506 | $222,560 | $41,432 |
| 16 | U Of O Campus | 3,022 | $468,100 | $20,050 |
| 17 | Active Bethel | 26,225 | $147,138 | $46,446 |
| 18 | Downtown | 4,437 | $322,367 | $26,884 |
| 19 | Whiteaker | 3,610 | $266,267 | $34,549 |
| 20 | Trainsong | 1,299 | $219,000 | $50,854 |
| 21 | West Eugene | 4,394 | $245,286 | $51,736 |
