Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Portland
Oregon
10
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Portland
Homes cost $181k less ($341,700 vs $523,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Households earn $8,312 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
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
Median income trails Buckeye by $8,312/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$8,312
$94,188 vs $85,876/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
77% lower
166.8 vs 720.1 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$181k less
$341,700 vs $523,100
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
26.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories. Buckeye 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 Buckeye to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $523,100 median home), income ($94,188 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Portland, OR are about 990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.