Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 18 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Midland
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Median income trails Midland by $21,011/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Midland
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($280,700 vs $411,700)
Households earn $21,011 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Gresham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$21,011
$90,448 vs $69,437/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
11% lower
364.9 vs 410.2 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$131k less
$280,700 vs $411,700
Midland
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 18 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 5 and Midland wins 18. 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 Gresham to Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $280,700 median home), income ($69,437 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Midland, TX are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.