Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Portland, 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
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($246,000 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,530)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $24,373/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
Portland, OR
Pros
39% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $24,373 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Albuquerque
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
$277k less
$246,000 vs $523,100
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$24,373
$85,876 vs $61,503/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
39% lower
720.1 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Portland, 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 | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 219⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Portland'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 Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $523,100 median home), income ($61,503 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Portland, OR are about 1,105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.