Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Portland
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
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.
Pearland, TX
Pros
87% less violent crime than Portland
Homes cost $212k less ($311,100 vs $523,100)
Households earn $25,247 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Portland, OR
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $92/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,622)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pearland by $25,247/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$25,247
$111,123 vs $85,876/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
87% lower
95.9 vs 720.1 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$212k less
$311,100 vs $523,100
Pearland
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories. Pearland 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 Pearland to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $523,100 median home), income ($111,123 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Portland, OR are about 1,845 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.