Living a Biking Lifestyle in Eugene, Oregon

Eugene, population 154,620, has many attractions as a biking community. For one, it is a vibrant college town; 17,000 students attend the University of Oregon here. It has the Cascade Mountain range for unlimited hiking, skiing and outdoor opportunities  like mountain biking. The wild and rugged Pacific coast is just an hour to the west. The city, birthplace of Nike, is famous for its extensive park system, which includes many bike and running trails. The university gives the community a decided liberal slant and cultural boost.

Eugene, a city of over 150,000, enjoys a national reputation as one of the most livable cities in the country. As a retirement community Eugene offers small town charm combined with big city sparkle. It has a thriving and eclectic arts scene along with unsurpassed natural beauty. Its slogan is that it is “The World’s Greatest City of the Arts and the Outdoors”. Photo of Eugene Public Library courtesy of Wikipedia and Cacophony.

Where to Retire in Eugene and Home Prices

There are several developments aimed at retirees, ranging in price and in amenities. Some of the active adult 55+ communities here include: Cascade Manor, the Eugene Hotel, and SongBrook. Follow the Active Adult Community links at left for more.
People moving here from larger west coast cities will find real estate to be relatively inexpensive by those standards.  According to the National Association of Realtors, the median sale price of a home in Eugene, Oregon was $471,200 in the 2nd quarter of 2022.

What Is Special about Eugene

Eugene is a University town with natural beauty and the nearby Cascade Mountains. There is an extensive and beautiful park system which include Skinner Butte Park, Alton Baker Park, Hendricks Park (Rhododendron Garden). The town also offers recreational opportunities - especially bicycling, rafting, and kayaking, an arts focus, activist political leanings and alternative lifestyles, and the Oregon Experiment (participatory planning).

What Is Not Special about Eugene

Some people might not appreciate that this is a very green, liberal community with a significant aging hippie population. Air quality is below average.

Climate and Physical Environment

It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley where the McKenzie and Willamette rivers come together. It is about 60 miles east of the Oregon Coast. Eugene averages 50 inches of rain per year, the average year round temperature is 52.  It occasionally snows in winter, with the median temperature in January is about 40.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

There are a number of important cultural institutions here: the Eugene Symphony, the Eugene Ballet, the Eugene Opera, the Eugene Concert Choir, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Oregon Children's Choir, and Oregon Festival of American Music. There is also the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, along with the Beall Concert Hall on the University of Oregon campus. Not to mention the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Live theater groups in Eugene include: the Willamette Repertory Theatre, Lord Leebrick Theatre.

Crime

The crime rate in Eugene is well above the national average.

Medical Facilities

Sacred Heart Medical Center and McKenzie-Willamette Hospital both serve the area.

Transportation

Eugene Airport is located here along with Amtrak. The Lane Transit System is excellent and the buses have bike racks and are wheelchair accessible. The System covers 240 square miles and has more than 3.7 million passenger trips per year. Eugene's bike trails are legendary, and the city is average in walkability, when compared to other communities.

Valuable Links

Eugene Cascades Coast

Eugene, Oregon

City-Data facts about Eugene

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