Eugene OR vs Lynchburg VA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Eugene, OR

Oregon · Population: 177,520

  • Median HH Income$63,836
  • Median Home Price$478,489
  • Unemployment7.6%
  • Bachelor's+44.2%

Lynchburg, VA

Virginia · Population: 79,255

  • Median HH Income$59,808
  • Median Home Price$264,994
  • Unemployment5.0%
  • Bachelor's+38.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Eugene
177,520
Eugene +
Lynchburg
79,255
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Eugene
N/A
Lynchburg
N/A
Median Age
Eugene
35.4
Lynchburg
28.4
Lynchburg +
Foreign Born
Eugene
6.8%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
4.6%
White
Eugene
78.9%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
62.2%
Black
Eugene
1.8%
Lynchburg
27.7%
Lynchburg +
Asian
Eugene
3.9%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
2.2%
Hispanic
Eugene
11.4%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
5.0%
Spanish at Home
Eugene
N/A
Lynchburg
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Eugene
$63,836
Eugene +
Lynchburg
$59,808
Per Capita Income
Eugene
$41,035
Eugene +
Lynchburg
$30,004
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Eugene
$63,691
Lynchburg
$69,581
Lynchburg +
Unemployment Rate
Eugene
7.6%
Lynchburg
5.0%
Lynchburg +
Poverty Rate
Eugene
18.2%
Lynchburg
17.4%
Lynchburg +
Bachelor's Degree+
Eugene
44.2%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
38.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Eugene
$478,489
Lynchburg
$264,994
Lynchburg +
Homeownership Rate
Eugene
47.6%
Lynchburg
49.1%
Lynchburg +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Eugene
355
Lynchburg
240
Lynchburg +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Eugene
3001
Lynchburg
1726
Lynchburg +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Eugene
34.0%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
37.1%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Eugene
9.4%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
11.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Eugene
19.9%
Lynchburg
19.4%
Lynchburg +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Eugene
8.3%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
9.1%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Eugene
15.1%
Lynchburg
14.8%
Lynchburg +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Eugene
11.9%
Eugene +
Lynchburg
12.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Eugene
52.5°F
Eugene +
Lynchburg
54.8°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Eugene
46.1 in
Lynchburg
41.5 in
Lynchburg +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Eugene
9.0 µg/m³
Lynchburg
8.2 µg/m³
Lynchburg +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Eugene
55.0%
Lynchburg
75.0%
Lynchburg +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Eugene
19.9 min
Lynchburg
18.5 min
Lynchburg +

Which City is Right for You?

Eugene leads in median household income at $63,836, while lynchburg offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $264,994. On public safety, Lynchburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 355 in Eugene. Lynchburg has a lower unemployment rate at 5.0%, and Lynchburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Eugene scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Eugene & Lynchburg