Living in Eugene, Oregon | Best Neighborhoods

You’ve decided to move to Eugene, but you’re trying to find the right neighborhood to fit your lifestyle. Today we are taking a look at some of the most popular neighborhoods in Eugene.

Before I dive into outlining the neighborhoods, let’s talk about how I determined which ones were the ‘best’ neighborhoods. Most areas in Eugene have their own unique characteristics and something great to offer their residents so it was a tough decision. And it’s really subjective. I decided to take a queue from the clients I’ve worked with in the past and the most requested areas when searching for homes.

First up, we have the Friendly Street area. With its central location and easy access to downtown and the University of Oregon, it’s one of the most popular areas to live in here in Eugene. The area also includes the College Hill neighborhood. The neighborhood is outlined by West 18th Avenue to the north, Amazon Creek to the east, West 29th Avenue to Lorane Highway to the south, and Chambers Street to the west. The majority of the homes in the area were built from the 1930s to the 1970s with a little new construction sprinkled throughout.

There are a number of homes with lots of character. Cookie-cutter homes are not the norm in this part of town. The rolling hills of the College Hill neighborhood provide some picturesque views and great sidewalks to stroll with family and friends. The Friendly area of Eugene is home to several local businesses within walking distance, including restaurants, bars, medical offices, and more. You can find the majority of them on Willamette Street, West 18th, and West 29th.

The area provides easy access to fun activities such as frisbee golf and even pickleball at Westmoreland Park. It’s a quick drive to iconic Spencer Butte just south of town for a beautiful hike and Amazon pool just east of Amazon Creek for some fun in the sun.

Next up, we have Santa Clara. There is a very suburban, and in some parts rural, feel in Santa Clara that makes it a great place to live and be part of the community. Santa Clara is at the North end of River Road. The area is outlined by Beacon Drive to the north, the NW Expressway to the west, the Willamette River to the east, and Beltline Road to the south.

There is a good mix of older subdivisions established in the ’60s and ’70s clear up to new construction still being built. There are even a number of old farmhouses on the outskirts that add to this area’s charm. River Road is the main street in Santa Clara and is home to several local businesses, including restaurants, gas stations, financial institutions, and medical offices. There are a number of beautiful parks in the area, along with a couple of different boat ramps for easy access to the Willamette River, and it’s also a quick bike ride to hit the Ruth Bascom bike trail that runs along both sides of the Willamette River. The area is also a quick drive to several farms on the outskirts of town.

Another draw to Santa Clara is that not all homes have been annexed into the city of Eugene. Depending on the year that the home was built, there is a chance that it will be a part of the county and not an official part of the city of Eugene. What does that mean? There is a difference in the amount of property taxes you as the owner would pay and a difference in amenities that you have access to. County property taxes tend to be lower than city property taxes which can make a big difference in a house payment.

Third on the list, we have the Cal Young area of Eugene. It’s just north of the Willamette River over the Ferry Street Bridge right in the heart of town which makes it a great place to live. It’s bisected by Cal Young Road that runs east to west through the middle of it. The Cal Young neighborhood contains many amenities including major shopping centers, several grocery stores, parks, two golf courses, and a branch of the Eugene Library. It’s also home to the Oakway Shopping Center with great retail stores and awesome restaurants.

The neighborhood is outlined by Beltline Road to the north, Coburg Road to the east, the Willamette River to the south, and Delta Hwy to the west. The majority of the homes in the area were built from the 1950s to the 1980s with a little newer construction sprinkled throughout. There are also a number of condos built in the 70s for less expensive options to purchase and a number of apartments to rent.

The Cal Young area offers access to some great family parks and a number of wide streets with sidewalks for walking along with two area golf courses. It also includes the Ruth Bascom bike path and provides easy access to Autzen Stadium, PK Park, and the Cuthbert Amphitheater if you want to take in a local sporting event or concert.

Next up we have the Amazon area of Eugene. The area is located in the highly desirable Southern part of town that’s in close proximity to downtown Eugene, Lane Community College, and the University of Oregon. It’s a prime location with tons of amenities in or around the neighborhood.

The neighborhood is outlined by 24th Avenue on the north, Agate Street and Laurelwood Golf Course on the east, 30th Avenue on the south, and Amazon Creek on the west. The majority of the homes in the area were built in the early to mid-1900s. The neighborhood is also smack dab in the middle of great recreation and family activities including The Very Little Theatre, the YMCA, and Laurelwood Golf Course. It’s also within a quick bike ride to the University of Oregon which boasts some great sports, art, and entertainment. For fun in the warmer months, the area also includes the Amazon Pool and Community Center and the Amazon Skate Park.

Last on our list of the best neighborhoods in Eugene is the Northeast area. Its convenient location makes it a great place to live. The area is located in north Eugene and is outlined by the city limits to the north, Game Farm Road to the east, Beltline Road to the south, and the Willamette River to the west. A nice thing about the Northeast area is that it’s easily accessed from Beltline Road and I-5 and has some great amenities in the area on Crescent Avenue, Green Acres Road, and Chad Drive. Coburg Road goes right through the middle of this part of town and takes you toward downtown heading south and across the McKenzie River and out to rural farmland in Coburg within minutes.

You can find a variety of different homes in the area. From the many apartment complexes and manufactured homes in parks, to small ranch homes built in the mid-1900s, to many homes currently under construction including homes in ‘The Nines’ at the end of North Delta Hwy.The Northeast area is home to several businesses, including restaurants, medical offices, the VA Hospital, salons, and more. It’s also home to the many businesses on Crescent and Shadowview where they have built a very walkable community of its own. There are great playgrounds and parks in the area and provides easy access to the northeast end of the Ruth Bascom Riverbank path that runs along the Willamette River.

I hope you found this information helpful. I’d love to hear from you. You can call, email, or leave a comment down below. I work hard to stay connected.