Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $38,455 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°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 Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($174,100 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,530)
41% less violent crime than Portland
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $38,455/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$38,455
$85,876 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
41% lower
425.9 vs 720.1 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$349k less
$174,100 vs $523,100
Waco
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 23 categories. Portland wins 9 and Waco wins 14. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($85,876 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Waco, TX are about 1,669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.