Springfield is a natural gateway to many exciting outdoor adventures and a place of many good opportunities.  

For those seeking to live a simple yet adventurous life, Springfield, Oregon, is the right place for you. It is in the Southern Willamette Valley and within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area.

More about Springfield

People often compare Eugene and Springfield. However, Springfield is just uniquely beautiful in its way. There are many ways to explore and discover in this vibrant community with rivers and woods almost everywhere. You may also enjoy several recreational activities such as river rafting, fishing, boating, and more. Embraced by the scenic Willamette Valley and McKenzie Rivers, Springfield is a place to go to when you have to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. 

 

The neighborhood’s extensive recreational sports and swimming center, Willamalane Park and Recreation District are among the most visited places in the area. It highlights ten waterfront areas, nine sports fields, 29 miles of hiking and biking trails, and 27 playgrounds. Springfield City, situated just right off Interstate 5, also has high-density hotels, restaurants, and shopping, which attract people from Eugene to visit the place. Likewise, Springfield residents also have easy access to many Eugene’s amenities such as the UO’s Autzen Stadium, Matthew Knight Arena, Alton Baker Park, Oakway Shopping Cente, and others. 

Springfield’s Cost of Living and Economy

If there’s another thing Springfield is known for, it is the low cost of living. Springfield, Oregon’s living cost is significantly lower than Eugene’s neighbor, mostly because its housing market isn’t as booming. According to the World Population Review, house ownership is only at 51.1% in Springfield. Meanwhile, the cost of living in Springfield is 9% lower than Oregon’s. Springfield’s median home value is about $189,700, while the median rent price is at $893 per month for over the past years. 

However, the economy is not doing so great in Springfield. According to the world population review, the median household income is $54,927, with a poverty rate of 20.42%. Unemployment also seems to be rampant in Springfield as it holds an 8.1% unemployment rate.  

Springfield’s School and Education

Just like Eugene, Springfield also has a fair share of academic institutions with more than 50 schools. Some of the most enrolled institutions are:

 Thurston Elementary School           Thurston Elementary School is an above-average school public school. Students here performed above average academic improvement year-over-year. It ranks 16th in Best Public Elementary Schools in Lane County, according to Niche.

   

  •  Centennial Elementary School is about average public school. It serves 398 students in grades Kindergarten-5. You will find the school in the top 50% of all schools in Oregon for overall test scores for the 2017-2018 school year. Perhaps, the student to teacher ratio here is 20:1, equal to the Oregon state level. 

       

  •  Hamlin Middle School is a public school that serves 680 students in grades 6-8. The student to teacher ratio here is 24:1 that is higher than the Oregon state level of 20:1.   

 

  • Thurston Middle School is about average in school quality compared to other schools in Oregon. It serves 563 students in grades 6 to 8—the school placed in the top 30% of all schools in Oregon for overall test scores. Perhaps, the student to teacher ratio here is 23:1, which is also higher than the Oregon State level of 20:1.

 

  •   Briggs Middle School is a public school that serves 497 students in grades 6-8. The student to teacher ratio here is 21:1, which is higher than the Oregon state level of 20:1.
  •  According to Niche, Springfield High School ranks 19 out of 326 in Most Diverse Public High Schools in Oregon. It serves 1,349 students in grades 9-12. The student to teacher ratio here is 23:1, which is also higher than the Oregon state level.
  •  Thurston High School serves 1,316 students in grades 9-12 with a 24:1 student to teacher ratio. Based on Niche, state test reveals that 35% of students here are proficient in math and 64% in reading.

 Although there are no home universities or colleges in Springfield, Eugene universities and colleges are just a few miles away from Springfield. Some of them are the University of Oregon, Lane Community College, and Northwest Christian University.

 

Still, many people choose to live in Springfield because of the simplicity of life there. But despite Springfield’s simplicity, it is no doubt that one can still achieve a high-quality experience because of Springfield’s endless opportunities.