Eugene : Oregon

Eugene, population 158,000, has many attractions as a retirement 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. And 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 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”.

Eugene is located in Lane County. Use this Oregon retirement guide for more information about taxes, etc. Photo of Fern Ridge Lake, also known as Fern Ridge Reservoir, courtesy of Wikipedia and Bill Johnson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (public domain); photo of The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts courtesy of Wikipedia and photographer J. Ralph (public domain).

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 right 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 $338,600 in the 2nd quarter of 2020, up about 9% from a year earlier.

University town; natural beauty and the nearby Cascade Mountains; an extensive and beautiful park system including: Skinner Butte Park, Alton Baker Park, Hendricks Park (Rhododendron Garden).; activist political leanings and alternative lifestyles; recreation opportunities - especially bicycling, rafting, and kayaking; an arts focus; and the Oregon Experiment (participatory planning).

Eugene attracts a community of active adults who want to live in a college town and who enjoy being close to one of the world's great outdoor environments.

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.