Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,388 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($242,200 vs $523,100)
35% less violent crime than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 47°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.6%)
Median income trails Portland by $8,388/yr
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$8,388
$85,876 vs $77,488/yr
Portland
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Violent Crime
35% lower
470.5 vs 720.1 per 100k
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$281k less
$242,200 vs $523,100
South Fulton
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 12 and South Fulton wins 11. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $242,200 median home), income ($85,876 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and South Fulton, GA are about 2,163 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.