Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Portland leads 15 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
32% less violent crime than Tacoma
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,791 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($415,300 vs $523,100)
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Income
$6,791
$85,876 vs $79,085/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
32% lower
720.1 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Portland
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$108k less
$415,300 vs $523,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Portland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 15 of 23 categories. Portland wins 15 and Tacoma wins 8. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $415,300 median home), income ($85,876 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Tacoma, WA are about 119 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.