Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Independence leads 14 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Portland
Oregon
9
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($150,800 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,530)
21% less violent crime than Portland
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $28,461/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $28,461 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
21% lower
571.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$372k less
$150,800 vs $523,100
Independence
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$28,461
$85,876 vs $57,415/yr
Portland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Independence is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 14 of 23 categories. Independence wins 14 and Portland wins 9. 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 Independence to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($57,415 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Portland, OR are about 1,504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.