Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Beaverton, OR
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Beaverton
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($246,000 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $649/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,663)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $27,396/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.9%)
Beaverton, OR
Pros
69% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $27,396 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Albuquerque
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$249k less
$246,000 vs $494,700
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 82.3°F
Beaverton
Median Income
$27,396
$88,899 vs $61,503/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
69% lower
364.8 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Beaverton, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $494,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,663⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $88,899 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Beaverton SD 48J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 42.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 97,554 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 50.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Beaverton's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Beaverton wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Beaverton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $494,700 median home), income ($61,503 vs $88,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Beaverton, OR are about 1,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.