Considering a Move to Eugene from Austin, TX

[Traveleratheart]

I am also thinking of moving from Austin to Eugene, as the small city I came to here 18 years ago has really outgrown itself. I do love there is a lot to do here, but now I have a child and am looking for a calmer, easier life, and other parents to hang out with. Plus, less traffic and concrete. I am beginning to have a hard time getting around because of the traffic, and find i am getting crankier. Austin seems to be a place where families (really moms and kids)meet up, but don't come over for dinner, or visit each others homes.

I am curious what families with kids do in the winter, and if there is a strong sense of community, and if so what that looks like? I don't have a lot of moves left in me, so want to find a place where I can settle in. I am looking for quality of life and ease, but am concerned there may be a critical mass of people missing in Eugene, or it would beging to feel like an island?

Any info most helpful. BTW, I am an older parent of a young boy.

[Traveleratheart]

PS--also an older SINGLE parent of a young boy. I have been warned it might be hard to find a boyfriend in Eugene, but Portland just feels too urban for where I am now.

[Pfhtex]

This is interesting. I am moving from Dallas to Central Oregon by the end of August, and have not settled on a city. My "territory" for work will include equal parts Bend and Eugene.

I was set on Bend, but I really prefer more rain/fog/overcast skies, and snow at Christmas. I know snow will depend more on elevation in the Bend area, but what about Eugene.

(Single male, no kids, low to mid 40's....)

[kapetrich]

Originally Posted by Pfhtex

This is interesting. I am moving from Dallas to Central Oregon by the end of August, and have not settled on a city. My "territory" for work will include equal parts Bend and Eugene.

I was set on Bend, but I really prefer more rain/fog/overcast skies, and snow at Christmas. I know snow will depend more on elevation in the Bend area, but what about Eugene.

(Single male, no kids, low to mid 40's....)

It's is MUCH MUCH MUCH more likely Bend will have snow than Eugene no matter the time of year.

It is a rare occurance in the valley while in Bend it is a part of life, albeit small accumulation semi-often (depends what you're used to). To give you perspective, when it snows in Bend life is not altered much if at all. Everyone goes to work and it's a normal day. Also, the city hardly even plow the streets - people are just used to snow - while in Eugene I'm willing to bet it's totally opposite given the lack of regular snow. That said, I've never been in Eugene while its snowed. Mostly because I've never been there in the dead of winter... That and it hardly snows there at all.


Past the snow, if you prefer rain/overcast/fog go with Eugene, but be careful what you wish for....7-9 months of pretty consistent over cast is totally different ball game than enjoying the odd day or two a week of rain/fog/overcast.

Just be realistic - both are amazing places to live with high qualities of life.

[hamellr]

The other thing to remember is that you may need to deal with roads closed due to snow between Bend and Eugene.

[Mr Eugenified]

@Pfhtex: You can check out my city-data profile page to see a day by day weather log that a did a while back. This can give you some more qualitative feeling about the daily weather. I have also posted the weather log on my personal webpage in proper date order that is easier to read than the city-data profile page.

Re snow: Definitely not much snow in Eugene. But it was snowed here at least 10 days or so each winter for the last 4 years. As kapetrich pointed out, people in Eugene get a little freaked out by the snow. This past winter, we had some relatively heavy snow in March.

Aside from the snow issue, there are other HUGE differences you should also think about when choosing between Bend and Eugene.