1st Advantage MortgageIn Lane County, Oregon, the typical household earns $71,544 a year and the typical rent is $1,355. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Oregon before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Lane County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lane County
- Household income in Lane County
- What it costs to live in Lane County
- Lane County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Lane County
- Lane County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Lane County
- Room for a loan payment in Lane County
- Steps before you apply in Lane County
- Licensing and complaints for Lane County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lane County
With an estimated 384,207 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lane County ranks 4th of 36 in Oregon for population. Packed into 4,554 square miles, that is close to 84 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Eugene-Springfield, OR metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 22 places in the county (12 incorporated, 10 census-designated); the largest is Eugene, with about 179,591 residents, or 47% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Lane County
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 28% locally and 24% for Oregon. The survey's unemployment rate for Lane County averages 6.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. Only 7.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lane County workers | vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.1% | +4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | -0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Lane County
Half of Lane County households take in less than $71,544 a year and half take in more, 14% below the Oregon median of $83,011. Only 16 Oregon counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Lane County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -5.0 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. 15.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.456 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lane County median.
What it costs to live in Lane County
Renters in Lane County pay a median of $1,355 a month, 11% below the Oregon figure of $1,525. 55% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. Home values center on $430,600, or 6.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 60% of homes. Median construction year: 1977.
| Home costs | Lane County | Oregon | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,355/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $430,600 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.1% | 7.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 8% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Lane County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Linn County at 43 miles out to Polk County at 72. Income ranges from $61,310 in Douglas County to $85,118 in Polk County; 4 of these neighbors top Lane County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lane County | - | $71,544 | $1,355/mo | 60% |
| Linn County, OR | 43 mi | $76,329 | $1,320/mo | 67% |
| Douglas County, OR | 46 mi | $61,310 | $1,055/mo | 73% |
| Benton County, OR | 47 mi | $77,702 | $1,410/mo | 57% |
| Marion County, OR | 69 mi | $77,351 | $1,414/mo | 62% |
| Lincoln County, OR | 70 mi | $63,165 | $1,201/mo | 72% |
| Polk County, OR | 72 mi | $85,118 | $1,299/mo | 65% |
Towns and communities in Lane County
The table lists the 14 largest of 22 Census places in Lane County, by population. Together all 22 hold about 312,040 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. Creswell has the highest median household income on the list ($100,385) and Dexter the lowest ($38,304), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Lane County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 22.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | city | 179,591 | $66,562 | $1,402 | 14 mi |
| Springfield | city | 61,499 | $68,761 | $1,258 | 10 mi |
| Cottage Grove | city | 10,698 | $80,875 | $1,254 | 12 mi |
| Santa Clara | CDP | 10,551 | $88,344 | $1,706 | 17 mi |
| Florence | city | 9,482 | $53,333 | $1,259 | 60 mi |
| River Road | CDP | 8,862 | $81,589 | $1,633 | 16 mi |
| Junction City | city | 6,947 | $85,595 | $1,316 | 25 mi |
| Creswell | city | 5,621 | $100,385 | $1,218 | 6 mi |
| Veneta | city | 5,200 | $66,890 | $1,590 | 24 mi |
| Oakridge | city | 3,184 | $40,297 | $1,017 | 25 mi |
| Heceta Beach | CDP | 2,651 | $79,938 | $1,141 | 61 mi |
| Coburg | city | 1,626 | $98,000 | $1,392 | 17 mi |
| Dunes City | city | 1,357 | $65,313 | n/a | 59 mi |
| Lowell | city | 1,228 | $99,440 | $1,125 | 6 mi |
Lane County residents: age, schooling, coverage
34% of Lane County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.6%, against 5.9% for Oregon.
| Measure | Lane County | Oregon statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.0% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.7% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Lane County
Based on the Lane County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of Lane County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Room for a loan payment in Lane County
Lane County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,962 before taxes
- 23% goes to median rent ($1,355)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $732 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,328 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,355, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Lane County
Quick steps for Lane County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Oregon borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Lane County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lane County resident can confirm its license with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lane County?
$71,544 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,011 for Oregon. It ranks 17th of 36 in the state.
Is Lane County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,355 against $1,525 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Eugene?
Yes, along with the other 21 Census places in Lane County, such as Springfield, Cottage Grove, Santa Clara.
Is the fit check different in Lane County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lane County?
Start with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.