Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 23 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
629,176
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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($204,800 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,530)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $22,762/yr
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $22,762 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Violent Crime
2% lower
707.4 vs 720.1 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$318k less
$204,800 vs $523,100
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$22,762
$85,876 vs $63,114/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 23 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($63,114 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and Portland, OR are about 1,952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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