Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 14 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Portland
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($368,800 vs $523,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portland by $14,509/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
14% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $14,509 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
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
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$154k less
$368,800 vs $523,100
Lancaster
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Income
$14,509
$85,876 vs $71,367/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
14% lower
720.1 vs 834.7 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 14 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 9 and Portland wins 14. 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 Lancaster to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($71,367 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Portland, OR are about 785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.