Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $19,074 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°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
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($333,200 vs $523,100)
38% less violent crime than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,530)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portland by $19,074/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$19,074
$85,876 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
38% lower
444.6 vs 720.1 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$190k less
$333,200 vs $523,100
Tampa
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Portland wins 11 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $333,200 median home), income ($85,876 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Tampa, FL are about 2,498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.