Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 20 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
Tallahassee
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,899
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $32,977 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($256,400 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($1,165 vs $1,530)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $32,977/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$32,977
$85,876 vs $52,899/yr
Portland
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tallahassee
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Tallahassee
Median Home Value
$267k less
$256,400 vs $523,100
Tallahassee
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 95.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $256,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,165 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $52,899 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 49.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 198,259 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Tallahassee is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 20 categories. Portland wins 12 and Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $256,400 median home), income ($85,876 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Tallahassee, FL are about 2,307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.