Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
Portland
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($141,900 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $507/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,530)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $35,384/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $35,384 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°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 16% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$381k less
$141,900 vs $523,100
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$35,384
$85,876 vs $50,492/yr
Portland
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Portland wins 9. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $523,100 median home), income ($50,492 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Portland, OR are about 2,293 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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