Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $40,471 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Toledo
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°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
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($98,800 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $676/mo less ($854 vs $1,530)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $40,471/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$40,471
$85,876 vs $45,405/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
31% lower
720.1 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$424k less
$98,800 vs $523,100
Toledo
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 12 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $98,800 median home), income ($85,876 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Toledo, OH are about 1,953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.