Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $34,353 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($162,000 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $613/mo less ($917 vs $1,530)
14% less violent crime than Portland
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $34,353/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$34,353
$85,876 vs $51,523/yr
Portland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
14% lower
620.4 vs 720.1 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$361k less
$162,000 vs $523,100
Roanoke
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories. Portland wins 10 and Roanoke 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 Portland to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $162,000 median home), income ($85,876 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Roanoke, VA are about 2,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.