Is Eugene-Springfield the newest up-and-coming metropolitan area? One study says yes.
Oregon was ranked the No. 1 state to move to in 2025 in United Van Lines’ 49th Annual Movers Study. Eugene-Springfield was specifically named as the top metro destination in the state, accounting for 85% of commuters. The report noted a long-term change in Springfield’s lower cost of living compared to other Oregon cities, along with its proximity to Eugene and Portland is a major draw.
The study is based on home moves managed by the UniGroup network, which owns United Van Lines. While studies done by other companies don’t list Oregon as having the highest rate of inbound movers, some still note an upward trajectory.
U-Haul’s 2025 Growth Index found that Oregon saw the biggest jump in net growth, which measured more inbound than outbound migration. Oregon ranked 11th as a net gain state in 2025 compared to ranking 34th as a net loss state in 2024. However, Atlas Van Lines, a Canadian company, reported Oregon as a “balanced state” with slightly more residents moving from Oregon in 2025.
More: Moving to Eugene, Oregon? A newcomer’s guide to housing, jobs, schooling and more
How was Oregon ranked as the best state to move to in 2025?
In the United Van Lines study of in-state migration, 65% of movers were moving to Oregon in 2025, and 35% were moving away. The three most popular reasons people chose to move to Oregon were for work (36.1%), family (25.1%) and lifestyle (15.7%).
The two largest age groups moving in Oregon were under 18 to 34 (21.3% of movers) and 65 and over (29.3% of movers). The age range that saw the least movement in the state was ages 45 to 54 (14.0%).
The City of Eugene is seen from aboard the Goodyear Blimp “Wingfoot Three” over Eugene, Oregon on September 5, 2025.
This report is also consistent with the fact that Oregon’s population is increasing even though its birth rate is below the “replacement rate”, which is about 2.1 children per woman. As of 2024, Oregon’s birth rate is about 1.4, one of the lowest in the nation.
Moving to Eugene? Here are the basics
Eugene is the second largest city in Oregon with a population of 177,000. Eugene-Springfield is the second largest metropolitan area in the state with over 300,000 residents.
Located at the confluence of the Willamette and McKenzie rivers, Eugene and Springfield hug I-5. The cities are an hour’s drive south of Salem, two hours south of Portland and four hours south of Seattle.
The United Van Lines report said Eugene-Springfield’s proximity to other metros is part of its appeal.
According to the University of Oregon, the region was home to the Chifin band of the Kalapuya, who lived in the area for thousands of years but whose numbers were decimated by colonization. The town was named after the first white settler, Eugene Skinner, who arrived in 1846.
How much does it cost to live in Eugene?
The average rent in Eugene for all housing types is $1,947 per month, according to Zillow as of Dec. 31. Zillow indicates that rent has continued to rise over the years. Springfield’s average rent is slightly lower at $1,742 per month.
As of November 2025, the median home listing price in the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area was $524,000 — down 0.19% from November 2024.
Ginnie Sandoval, Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal, contributed to this article.
Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her at X @mirandabcyr.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Study names Eugene-Springfield, Oregon No. 1 moving destination