RANK #749 / 996 · POP 382,218 · OR
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.2%
Lane County, Oregon, is distinguished by its diverse landscapes, stretching from the Pacific Coast to the Cascade Mountains, encompassing the Willamette Valley. This geographical variety offers residents access to ocean beaches, sand dunes, dense forests, and numerous rivers and lakes. Cottage Grove, for instance, is known as the "Covered Bridge Capital of the West," featuring historic bridges that draw visitors. Eugene, the county's largest city, is recognized as "TrackTown USA" due to its athletic heritage and the University of Oregon. Commute times average around 20 minutes, with public transit options like Lane Transit District (LTD) bus services and the Emerald Express (EmX) bus rapid transit system available, particularly in the Eugene-Springfield area. The county boasts extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping in its 65 parks and numerous waterways.
Life in Lane County offers a blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. The community is considered moderately healthy with active residents. The economy is driven by several sectors, including healthcare, which is projected to see significant job growth due to an aging population. Other growing sectors include leisure and hospitality, information technology, construction, and manufacturing, particularly in durable and non-durable goods. The presence of the University of Oregon also contributes to the local economy through education and related job creation.
Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Prices declining
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Eugene Housing Production Strategy & Urban Growth Boundary Expansion
City of Eugene, Lane County
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Sierra Pacific Industries Modernization
Sierra Pacific Industries
|
$253M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Distribution Center
Amazon
|
$150M | Under Construction |
|
Affordable Housing Developments (Multiple Projects)
Homes for Good Housing Agency
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Short Mountain Landfill Renewable Natural Gas Production Unit
Waga Energy (in partnership with Lane County and Emerald People's Utility District)
|
$75M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Lane County has a Boom Town Index score of 25/100, ranking #749 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.1% and a median household income of $65,157, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Lane County is $363,800 with median rent at $1,210/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1791, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.1%. Home values changed -0.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.91% of Lane County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.