Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories
Peoria
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Portland
Oregon
8
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.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
65% less violent crime than Portland
Homes cost $140k less ($383,600 vs $523,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,638)
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
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$883
$86,759 vs $85,876/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
65% lower
254.7 vs 720.1 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$140k less
$383,600 vs $523,100
Peoria
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
24.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 15 and Portland wins 8. 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 Peoria to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $523,100 median home), income ($86,759 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Portland, OR are about 979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.