What do I need to know about Eugene? (Springfield, Monroe: apartment complex, rentals)

[SteenochkaLaRue]

Eugene will be a nice town for a short commute...as you can almost get anywhere in town in usually 15 mins, depending on the time of day. That being said rent something " month to month", before settling on a neighborhood .

Generally a safe town and a really kid friendly place to be! Lots of outdoor and after-school activities to get your child involved in. While nationally, I've heard Oregon's schools are not the highest rated...I've been very pleased with my daughters teachers and progress . You have the opportunity to live anywhere in Eugene and enter a lottery if you would like to try to get your child enrolled in a school in a different neighborhood.
Definitely get bikes after y'all settle in....it's a great town for family biking....but don't forget to get some sturdy U-locks for them!

[oakread2]

Thanks for the recommendation to rent month-to-month. In all the places we've lived, they've all been in the same area we were both born and raised in. We knew exactly what areas were good and what were ones to avoid. It's a little difficult figuring that out when you're just getting there.

Well, even if the schools are not the highest rated, they are still better than where we are at right now. I'd like to move before our son starts Kindergarten, but it might have to wait a year or two after that.

I looked at the crime rates here on CD and wanted to know about the difference between Eugene and Springfield. Are some crimes higher because Eugene has the University and Springfield doesn't?

[bler144]

Originally Posted by oakread2

I looked at the crime rates here on CD and wanted to know about the difference between Eugene and Springfield. Are some crimes higher because Eugene has the University and Springfield doesn't?

It's not quite that simple, though certainly the legion of college students with bikes is a prime reason bike theft is endemic. Both Eugene and Springfield have better and worse 'hoods.

In general, historically Eugene has been wealthier and the more 'progressive' of the two cities, and most of the poverty was shunted into the Whit (now partially gentrified) and into northwest Eugene, though there are small pockets and neighborhoods scattered about. Stereotyping a bit, even amongst the poorest Eugenians living out of vans, some were truly poor and other were 'trustafarians' just slumming it for a while.

Comparatively, Springfield was always been more working class, with the lumber industry being the main employer, and it had a lot of rougher neighborhoods.

But in a lot of ways that's changing. For one, even a number of UO students/employees are now effectively priced out of the Eugene housing market (and the commute from Springfield can be easier). For two, the move of Sacred Heart hospital away from downtown Eugene to the river bend has pulled a number of the areas higher paying jobs to the east side of I-5. And a small number of 'hip' places are popping up in downtown Springfield.

You really have to look neighborhood to neighborhood, or at least get down to specific types of crime.

[Sizzle-Chest]

Originally Posted by bler144

It's not quite that simple, though certainly the legion of college students with bikes is a prime reason bike theft is endemic. Both Eugene and Springfield have better and worse 'hoods.

In general, historically Eugene has been wealthier and the more 'progressive' of the two cities, and most of the poverty was shunted into the Whit (now partially gentrified) and into northwest Eugene, though there are small pockets and neighborhoods scattered about. Stereotyping a bit, even amongst the poorest Eugenians living out of vans, some were truly poor and other were 'trustafarians' just slumming it for a while.

Comparatively, Springfield was always been more working class, with the lumber industry being the main employer, and it had a lot of rougher neighborhoods.

But in a lot of ways that's changing. For one, even a number of UO students/employees are now effectively priced out of the Eugene housing market (and the commute from Springfield can be easier). For two, the move of Sacred Heart hospital away from downtown Eugene to the river bend has pulled a number of the areas higher paying jobs to the east side of I-5. And a small number of 'hip' places are popping up in downtown Springfield.

You really have to look neighborhood to neighborhood, or at least get down to specific types of crime.

Very well said!

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by bler144

... ... some were truly poor and other were 'trustafarians' just slumming it for a while. ... ... .

What is a "Trustafarian"?

[Sizzle-Chest]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

What is a "Trustafarian"?

http://www.google.com/#q=trustafarian

[tsmw47]

Originally Posted by Sizzle-Chest

Google

Word is they reside in Asheville, NC too, interesting group. How do you tell one from the average less than well groomed looking young person? Are dreads required? Not meant to be disparaging just lacked a better description. Wonder what level of inherited income one must have to achieve that designation? Are there many in Eugene? Around here most people under 30 would seem to fit the description. :

[Steve Pickering]

Now that I know what one is, it reminds me back in 1981 I had a "Trustifarian" as one of three partners in a computer manufacturing company in Portland, that subsequently failed because of a change in technology, and the loss of the "Trustifarian” who returned to Hawaii, and my move back to Arizona.

Thanks for the new word in my vocabulary.

[jackwabbit007]

I have lived in eugene 50 years and plan on staying here. U are about just over an hour to the coast 2 hours from Portland and a couple hours to the mountains or cascades. Alot of greenery in the spring and population is about 160000 or so. It is a college city and u are about 10 to 20 minutes from autzen stadium home of the Oregon Ducks and Nike tennis shoes. Valley River Center is the shopping mall and is big enough for all your shopping needs. Shopping mall has a J c penny and a macys as well as a food court and imax 3d theatre. Tho the employment rate isn't great I find it a great place to live.

[oakread2]

Thanks everyone. It looks like we will be visiting in August for a couple of days. Our current landlord might (or might not) want to start the selling process on the house we live in, so we may be moving sooner than we had thought.

We'll be checking out different apartment complexes while we're there. Are there any that we should just stay away from and not waste our time on?