Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 22 categories
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($523,100 vs $879,900)
7% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,945)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $30,192/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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $30,192 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Violent Crime
7% lower
720.1 vs 775.1 per 100k
Portland
Median Home Value
$357k less
$523,100 vs $879,900
Portland
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$30,192
$116,068 vs $85,876/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 238⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Portland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 22 categories. Portland wins 12 and Seattle wins 10. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $879,900 median home), income ($85,876 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Seattle, WA are about 145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.