If you are thinking of OR, you might want to investigate Salem. I was between two consulting gigs there (and in Hillsboro) for a year and really liked it. Is the state capital, smaller, friendlier and less expensive than either Eugene or Portland. Is an easy shot on the interstate from both (about halfway between).
well, it is smaller and quieter maybe and maybe cheaper, but i personally would NOT pick Salem over either Eugene or Portland. i worked for 6 months in downtown Salem (for the State of Oregon) and considered living in Salem and decided to live in Portland and commute the 6 months. i guess if quiet is really important, then maybe, but Salem has much less going on, both socially and with sports, and much less of a "sport and cycling" crowd than either Portland or Eugene which also both are "younger" places -- Eugene has the university influence and Portland is just Portland - i think Salem is much more conservative in the social sense (it's still politcally liberal compared to the US average). i guess for me, Salem is too small of a place without having something "special" about it like a university or a major outdoor scene (like say Hood River that is awesome but there are no jobs).
if you were seeking some place small and quiet, i would pick Ashland over Salem - but i have no idea what kind of job possibilities there are there, but it is a cool quiet small town!