Portland is a small city of 20,130 in Texas, with a median household income of $83,493
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Portland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 91.3
Portland's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Portland costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Portland, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$218,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,731
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$83,493
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Portland's violent crime rate is 156.1 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
156.1 /100k
Property Crime
843.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Portland is served primarily by GREGORY-PORTLAND ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Portland, TX
National Avg
School District
GREGORY-PORTLAND ISD
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Portland sees average highs of 65.5°F in January
and 92.3°F in July,
with 34.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Portland's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Portland roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $218,200 and median rent is $1,731/month.
Portland's violent crime rate is 156.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 843.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Portland are operated by GREGORY-PORTLAND ISD.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 27.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Portland, TX has a population of 20,130, a median household income of $83,493, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Portland averages 65.5°F in January and 92.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.6 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Portland, TX is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 78374, 78390.
The population of Portland, Texas is 20,130 with a median age of 34.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Portland: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $218,200, median household income $83,493, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.
