Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,235 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $671k less ($213,300 vs $883,800)
61% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,849)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $37,235/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$37,235
$94,389 vs $57,154/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
61% lower
752.4 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$671k less
$213,300 vs $883,800
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories. Oakland wins 10 and Portsmouth wins 13. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $213,300 median home), income ($94,389 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.