Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paradise, NV
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Paradise leads 14 of 23 categories
Paradise
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733
Portland
Oregon
9
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.
Paradise, NV
Pros
87% less violent crime than Portland
Homes cost $189k less ($333,800 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,192 vs $1,530)
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $30,652/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $30,652 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Paradise
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Paradise
Violent Crime
87% lower
94.1 vs 720.1 per 100k
Paradise
Median Home Value
$189k less
$333,800 vs $523,100
Paradise
Summer Heat
24.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$30,652
$85,876 vs $55,224/yr
Portland
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paradise, NV | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $333,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,192 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,224 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 25 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.7% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 4.2" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,733 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paradise's cost of living index is 100.1 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Paradise is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Paradise leads 14 of 23 categories. Paradise wins 14 and Portland wins 9. 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 Paradise to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($55,224 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paradise, NV and Portland, OR are about 761 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.