Eugene, a Pacific Northwestern paradise, has risen in popularity for those looking to live in Oregon. With its picturesque nature views, stellar food scene, and infinite ways to spend your days, it shouldn’t come as a shock that roughly 175,100 people are living in Eugene.
If you’re planning on buying a home in Eugene, know that the housing market is somewhat competitive, the median home sale price is $452,500, and the average sale price per square foot is $287. For those renting, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Eugene is about $1,696.
If those numbers are out of your budget, don’t worry. We’ve got options to help you find a home. We’ve rounded up a list of the 5 best affordable suburbs of Eugene, Oregon to consider living in – and they’re all under a 35-minute drive from the city. You’ll still be close enough to Eugene to explore all the city has to offer without the price of living there.
#1: Cottage Grove
Median home price: $329,950
Average sale price per square foot: $196
Driving distance from Eugene: 25 minutes
Cottage Grove, OR homes for sale
Cottage Grove, OR apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $329,950, Cottage Grove comes in at number one on our list of most affordable suburbs of Eugene, Oregon. About a 25-minute drive away from downtown Eugene, Cottage Grove is home to roughly 10,600 residents. Living in Cottage Grove, you can explore Row River Nature Park, Bohemia Park, and North Regional Park or check out the downtown area.
#2: Springfield
Median home price: $382,000
Average sale price per square foot: $282
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,440
Driving distance from Eugene: 8 minutes
Springfield, OR homes for sale
Springfield, OR apartments for rent
Taking the second spot on our list is Springfield. Only 8 minutes from the city center you can hike and take in the views at Hendricks Park in no time. Make sure to visit Thurston Hills Natural Area and Wallace M. Ruff Jr. Memorial Park or check out downtown Springfield’s shops and restaurants.
#3: Creswell
Median home price: $389,250
Average sale price per square foot: $284
Driving distance from Eugene: 15 minutes
Creswell, OR homes for sale
Creswell, OR apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $389,250 and only a 15-minute drive away, Creswell takes the third place on our list. Even with a population of about 5,600, there are plenty of cool areas to explore in Creswell. Make sure to visit Garden Lake Park if you move to the third most affordable suburb.
#4: Veneta
Median home price: $439,500
Average sale price per square foot: $291
Driving distance from Eugene: 25 minutes
Veneta, OR homes for sale
Veneta, OR apartments for rent
A bit more expensive than Creswell is the suburb of Veneta. There are several hidden gems you may want to check out in this suburb of Eugene, Oregon.
#5: Junction City
Median home price: $486,650
Average sale price per square foot: $243
Driving distance from Eugene: 25 minutes
Junction City, OR homes for sale
Junction City, OR apartments for rent
Only a 25-minute drive into the city, consider adding Junction City to your list of affordable suburbs of Eugene, Oregon to live in. With 6,800 residents, moving to this suburb can keep you close enough to Eugene, without paying the premium for a home or apartment there. Living in Junction City, you’ll have easy access to all the attractions throughout the city of Eugene.
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Eugene and under a 36-minute drive from downtown Eugene. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com March 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
