Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528
Portland
Oregon
12
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($321,800 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $303/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,530)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $22,875/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $22,875 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 98°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
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$201k less
$321,800 vs $523,100
Fresno
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$22,875
$85,876 vs $63,001/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
2% lower
720.1 vs 735.5 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Fresno 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 Fresno to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($63,001 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Portland, OR are about 623 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.