Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica 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 ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $1132k less ($523,100 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $697/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,227)
7% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Monica by $20,921/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,921 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Violent Crime
7% lower
720.1 vs 778.0 per 100k
Portland
Median Home Value
$1132k less
$523,100 vs $1,654,800
Portland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Portland
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$20,921
$106,797 vs $85,876/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 214⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 228⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Portland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 11 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($85,876 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Santa Monica, CA are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.