Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,129)
Homes cost $62k less ($523,100 vs $584,700)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stamford by $14,842/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stamford, CT
Pros
78% less violent crime than Portland
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,842 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Home Value
$62k less
$523,100 vs $584,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 106.6 on the COL index
Stamford
Median Income
$14,842
$100,718 vs $85,876/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
78% lower
157.5 vs 720.1 per 100k
Stamford
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 12 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $584,700 median home), income ($85,876 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Stamford, CT are about 2,449 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.