Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Portland leads 15 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Yonkers
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,668 more per year on average
Rent averages $129/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,659)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yonkers, NY
Pros
57% less violent crime than Portland
Homes cost $67k less ($456,500 vs $523,100)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Median income trails Portland by $7,668/yr
Longer commutes — 34.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Income
$7,668
$85,876 vs $78,208/yr
Portland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Yonkers
Violent Crime
57% lower
311.8 vs 720.1 per 100k
Yonkers
Median Home Value
$67k less
$456,500 vs $523,100
Yonkers
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $456,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $78,208 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 209,780 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Portland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 15 of 23 categories. Portland wins 15 and Yonkers wins 8. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $456,500 median home), income ($85,876 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Yonkers, NY are about 2,438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.