Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Portland
Households earn $35,663 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $475k less ($523,100 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1098/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $35,663/yr
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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$35,663
$121,539 vs $85,876/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
39% lower
436.7 vs 720.1 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Cambridge
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Home Value
$475k less
$523,100 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 52.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Portland wins 12. 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 Cambridge to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $523,100 median home), income ($121,539 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Portland, OR are about 2,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.