Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $632/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $94k less ($523,100 vs $617,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tracy by $25,841/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tracy, CA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Portland
Households earn $25,841 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Home Value
$94k less
$523,100 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$25,841
$111,717 vs $85,876/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
58% lower
301.4 vs 720.1 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Portland is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 12 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $617,300 median home), income ($85,876 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Tracy, CA are about 543 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.