Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Kenosha leads 13 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Portland
Oregon
10
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $329k less ($194,400 vs $523,100)
60% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,530)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $20,913/yr
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $20,913 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°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
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Violent Crime
60% lower
285.7 vs 720.1 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$329k less
$194,400 vs $523,100
Kenosha
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$20,913
$85,876 vs $64,963/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 13 of 23 categories. Kenosha wins 13 and Portland wins 10. 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 Kenosha to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $523,100 median home), income ($64,963 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Portland, OR are about 1,725 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.