Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $986k less ($523,100 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1441/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,971)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $63,276/yr
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 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,276 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Portland
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Portland
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Home Value
$986k less
$523,100 vs $1,508,900
Portland
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$63,276
$149,152 vs $85,876/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
66% lower
243.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Portland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 11 and San Mateo wins 12. 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($85,876 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and San Mateo, CA are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.