Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Vallejo leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $364/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Violent Crime
3% lower
720.1 vs 739.8 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Portland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vallejo leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 11 and Vallejo wins 12. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $515,500 median home), income ($85,876 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Vallejo, CA are about 514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.