Eugene, OR Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Eugene, OR: What You Need to Know

Eugene (population: 156,431) is the second-most populous city in Oregon, behind Portland. It’s home to the University of Oregon, a nationally ranked research institution.

Job Opportunities in Eugene, OR

Lane County and its seat Eugene are located in the western agricultural belt, one of the most fertile regions in the country. Agriculture drives the local economy, with nursery crops and Christmas trees as the main crops. Other top industries are tourism, retail trade, and lumber. The area’s major employers include PeaceHealth (health care), University of Oregon, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, Royal Caribbean, U.S. government, and the city of Eugene.

Schools and Higher Education

Eugene is a bona fide college town with four institutions of higher education. The University of Oregon is the biggest among them, with 22,644 students. It offers over 300 undergraduate programs and more than 80 graduate programs. The university has a 295-acre campus along the Willamette River. There are 51 public schools serving 22,869 students in Eugene.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Eugene, OR?

The Mount Pisgah Arboretum covers 209 acres of land, including seven miles of trails. The trails start from the parking area all the way to the summit. Visitors from far and wide attend the annual Mushroom Festival at the arboretum, which displays over 300 species of local mushrooms. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, located at the University of Oregon, is a must-see. It features a collection of more than 13,000 works of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and American art.

Is It Expensive to Live in Eugene, OR?

As a whole, Oregon is not cheap. Eugene’s cost of living rate and housing costs are 6.7% and 4.8% higher than the national average, respectively. On the positive, food cost is 8.8% lower than the national average. Eugene’s median gross rent is $1,031. Oregon’s progressive income tax rate of 5% to 9.9% is among the highest in the country. At least, the state has no sales tax.

What is Eugene, OR Known For?

Eugene is famous for both culture and counterculture. The city is the region’s cultural center. The Eugene Symphony, Eugene Ballet, and Eugene Opera are based in the city. It hosts the Oregon Bach Festival, an annual celebration of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Other cultural venues include the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Cuthbert Amphitheater, John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, and the Very Little Theatre. Ken Kesey, the author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (published in 1962), was a famous Eugene resident. His novel became a movie in 1975, starring Jack Nicholson. He was known for his literary career, but also for his counterculture persona, and notoriety. There’s a bronze statue downtown honoring Kesey.