Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($198,900 vs $523,100)
28% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $376/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,530)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $44,035/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $44,035 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
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
Hartford
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
28% lower
515.8 vs 720.1 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$324k less
$198,900 vs $523,100
Hartford
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$44,035
$85,876 vs $41,841/yr
Portland
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Hartford 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 Hartford to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $523,100 median home), income ($41,841 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Portland, OR are about 2,471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.