Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $21,832 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,614)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
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
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($324,800 vs $523,100)
20% less violent crime than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $21,832/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Income
$21,832
$85,876 vs $64,044/yr
Portland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
20% lower
575.8 vs 720.1 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$198k less
$324,800 vs $523,100
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ 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 | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Portland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 12 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $324,800 median home), income ($85,876 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.