Portland, OR vs Seattle, WA
Portland, OR comes out ahead of Seattle, WA on 25 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 24. Portland, OR leads on Economics. Seattle, WA leads on Crime & Safety.
49 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 25
- Avg. percentile
- 47
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 24
- Avg. percentile
- 48
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Portland, OR | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 630,447 27th of 477 | 792,909 18th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $90,919 114th of 434 | $123,860 49th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $581,500 345th of 434 | $938,600 394th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 12.7% 178th of 434 | 9.88% 113th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.4 tied 357th of 460 | 111.1 tied 411th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $78,430 tied 58th of 460 | $91,790 tied 34th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,655 294th of 434 | $2,030 tied 369th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 694.6 316th of 395 | 698.7 318th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetySeattle, WA · 5 statistics
- EconomicsPortland, OR · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Portland, OR | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 100.1 tied 306th of 460 | 106.8 tied 449th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,655 294th of 434 | $2,030 tied 369th of 434 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 8.1 300th of 395 | 4.4 232nd of 395 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 107.0 tied 340th of 460 | 92.8 tied 262nd of 460 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $90,919 114th of 434 | $123,860 49th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 12.7% 178th of 434 | 9.88% 113th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.4 tied 357th of 460 | 111.1 tied 411th of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 125.1 tied 346th of 460 | 151.3 tied 400th of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 24.1 261st of 434 | 26.0 311th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $581,500 345th of 434 | $938,600 394th of 434 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.2 tied 405th of 460 | 104.0 tied 356th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 53.8% 78th of 434 | 68.4% 37th of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $60,690 tied 53rd of 460 | $72,610 tied 24th of 460 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 601.9 369th of 395 | 975.9 392nd of 395 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 93.9% 118th of 434 | 94.5% 93rd of 434 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $78,430 tied 58th of 460 | $91,790 tied 34th of 460 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 634.1 368th of 395 | 733.9 376th of 395 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 5,036.7 390th of 395 | 4,419.6 382nd of 395 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 694.6 316th of 395 | 698.7 318th of 395 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Portland, OR or Seattle, WA?
- Portland, OR comes out ahead of Seattle, WA on 25 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 24. Portland, OR leads on Economics. Seattle, WA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Portland, OR or Seattle, WA?
- Portland, OR has a population of 630,447 (27th of 477 US cities) and Seattle, WA has 792,909 (18th of 477).
- How do Portland, OR and Seattle, WA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Portland, OR $90,919 (114th of 434), Seattle, WA $123,860 (49th of 434) among US cities. Seattle, WA ranks better.
- How do Portland, OR and Seattle, WA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Portland, OR $581,500 (345th of 434), Seattle, WA $938,600 (394th of 434) among US cities. Portland, OR ranks better.
- Where does Portland, OR beat Seattle, WA most clearly?
- Portland, OR ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 100.1 vs 106.8; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,655 vs $2,030; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 105.4 vs 111.1.
- Where does Seattle, WA beat Portland, OR most clearly?
- Seattle, WA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 4.4 vs 8.1; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 92.8 vs 107.0; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $123,860 vs $90,919.
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