The Eugene metro is home to 382,628 people (up 3.7% over five years), with a median household income of $69,311. Typical rent of $1,771/month works out to 30.7% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Eugene's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 27.2% |
| Retail trade | 12.1% |
| Professional & management | 10.6% |
| Manufacturing | 9.9% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 30.7% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Eugene market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,771/month suggests a household income around $71,000/year. The metro's median household income is $69,311.
By workforce share: Education & health care (27.2%), Retail trade (12.1%), Professional & management (10.6%) (Census ACS 5-year).