Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 17 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825
Portland
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,513 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($523,100 vs $883,800)
63% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $319/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,849)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails Oakland by $8,513/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$8,513
$94,389 vs $85,876/yr
Portland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Violent Crime
63% lower
720.1 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Portland
Median Home Value
$361k less
$523,100 vs $883,800
Portland
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 219⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 17 of 23 categories. Oakland wins 6 and Portland wins 17. 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 Oakland to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($94,389 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Portland, OR are about 537 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.