The OC is a really big tech area, and has a really solid ecomony in general, so yeah, you're right.
I think it all comes down to crowds; Irvine is is the beginning of what I like to call the Megalopolis of Los Angeles; its all just one massively connected city from Irvine north to Burbank and east to San Bernardino. Granted, there's a lot of opportunity because of that and a massive cycling community but everything else is massive. I remember once my wife and I went on a hike in a remote area in the mountains and there was a line... on the hiking trail. the crowds here real.
I'm sure Eugene is the opposite, but with the that you have other issues. I've only ever lived in big population areas (SF, San Diego, Riverside / LA) so that appeals to me but I have no idea what that entails and am a bit burnt out on living around millions of people.