Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Beaverton leads 13 of 21 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Portland
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
49% less violent crime than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Homes cost $28k less ($494,700 vs $523,100)
Households earn $3,023 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,663)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.9%)
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$3,023
$88,899 vs $85,876/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
49% lower
364.8 vs 720.1 per 100k
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$28k less
$494,700 vs $523,100
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 106.6 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 13 of 21 categories. Beaverton wins 13 and Portland wins 8. 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 Beaverton to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $523,100 median home), income ($88,899 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Portland, OR are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.