Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 15 of 23 categories
New York
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Portland
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New York, NY
Pros
7% less violent crime than Portland
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Median income trails Portland by $9,269/yr
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($523,100 vs $732,100)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,269 more per year on average
Rent averages $184/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,714)
Cons
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
New York
Violent Crime
7% lower
671.0 vs 720.1 per 100k
New York
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Income
$9,269
$85,876 vs $76,607/yr
Portland
Median Home Value
$209k less
$523,100 vs $732,100
Portland
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 646,101 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 15 of 23 categories. New York wins 8 and Portland wins 15. 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 New York to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $523,100 median home), income ($76,607 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Portland, OR are about 2,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.