What are the schools like in Portland, CT?

Portland is served primarily by Portland School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6:1.

What is the median household income in Portland?

The median household income in Portland, CT is $94,923 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.

What is the weather like in Portland, CT?

Portland has an average high temperature of 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.6 inches.

Portland, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Portland, CT affordable or expensive?

Portland's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Portland is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $256,000 and the median rent is $1,192 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Portland, CT?

Portland has a violent crime rate of 26.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 586.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Portland, CT a Good Place to Live?

Portland is a small town of 6,417 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $94,923 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Portland stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Portland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Portland city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.6

Portland's overall cost of living index is 97.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Portland costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Portland, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$256,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,192	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$94,923	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Portland's violent crime rate is 26.5 per 100,000 residents — 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

26.5 /100k

Property Crime

586.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Portland is served primarily by Portland School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Portland, CT	National Avg
School District	Portland School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	41.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Portland sees average highs of 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 48.8 inches of annual precipitation and 38.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Portland, CT
Average High — January	36.8°F
Average High — July	84.6°F
Annual Precipitation	48.8"
Annual Snowfall	38.6"

Demographics

Metric	Portland, CT	National Avg
Population	6,417	—
Median Age	38.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.3%	18.9%
Asian	3.4%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Middletown, CT 3 mi Lake Pocotopaug, CT 6 mi Higganum, CT 7 mi East Hampton, CT 7 mi Durham, CT 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Portland

Portland, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

06480

Portland vs Other Cities

Portland, CT vs Middletown, CT Portland, CT vs Lake Pocotopaug, CT Portland, CT vs Higganum, CT Portland, CT vs East Hampton, CT Portland, CT vs Durham, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portland, CT affordable or expensive?

Portland's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Portland roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $256,000 and median rent is $1,192/month.

What is the crime rate in Portland, CT?

Portland's violent crime rate is 26.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 586.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Portland?

Public schools in Portland are operated by Portland School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 41.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Portland, CT a good place to live?

Portland, CT has a population of 6,417, a median household income of $94,923, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Portland?

Portland averages 36.8°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.8 inches with about 38.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Portland?

Portland, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 06480.

What is the population of Portland?

The population of Portland, Connecticut is 6,417 with a median age of 38.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Portland?

Key numbers for living in Portland: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $256,000, median household income $94,923, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Portland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.