Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($393,700 vs $523,100)
Households earn $23,392 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Portland
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Median income trails Germantown by $23,392/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$23,392
$109,268 vs $85,876/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$129k less
$393,700 vs $523,100
Germantown
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.3°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 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 | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 8 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 Germantown to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $523,100 median home), income ($109,268 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Portland, OR are about 2,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.