Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Portland leads 14 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $38,199 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°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
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($198,500 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $483/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,530)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $38,199/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$38,199
$85,876 vs $47,677/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
19% lower
720.1 vs 891.4 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$325k less
$198,500 vs $523,100
Springfield
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 14 of 23 categories. Portland wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $198,500 median home), income ($85,876 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Springfield, MA are about 2,468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.