

Portland, OR vs Tacoma, WA
Portland, OR comes out ahead of Tacoma, WA on 27 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 12. Portland, OR leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.
39 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 27
- Avg. percentile
- 47
- Categories led
- 2
- Wins
- 12
- Avg. percentile
- 40
- Categories led
- 0
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Portland, OR | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 630,447 27th of 477 | 231,747 99th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $90,919 114th of 434 | $85,884 134th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $581,500 345th of 434 | $479,600 320th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 12.7% 178th of 434 | 12.4% 167th 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 | $1,676 298th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 694.6 316th of 395 | 861.2 353rd of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- EconomicsPortland, OR · 14 statistics
- Crime & SafetyPortland, OR · 5 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Portland, OR | Tacoma, 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 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 53.8% 78th of 434 | 34.5% 210th of 434 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 24.1 261st of 434 | 28.8 367th of 434 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 107.0 tied 340th of 460 | 92.8 tied 262nd of 460 |
| 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 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.2 tied 405th of 460 | 104.0 tied 356th of 460 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 93.9% 118th of 434 | 92.8% 161st of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 694.6 316th of 395 | 861.2 353rd of 395 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 5,036.7 390th of 395 | 3,938.5 366th of 395 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $60,690 tied 53rd of 460 | $72,610 tied 24th of 460 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $581,500 345th of 434 | $479,600 320th 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 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 601.9 369th of 395 | 517.0 350th of 395 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $90,919 114th of 434 | $85,884 134th of 434 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 8.1 300th of 395 | 9.5 318th of 395 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 634.1 368th of 395 | 820.4 384th of 395 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 12.7% 178th of 434 | 12.4% 167th of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,655 294th of 434 | $1,676 298th of 434 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Portland, OR or Tacoma, WA?
- Portland, OR comes out ahead of Tacoma, WA on 27 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 12. Portland, OR leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Portland, OR or Tacoma, WA?
- Portland, OR has a population of 630,447 (27th of 477 US cities) and Tacoma, WA has 231,747 (99th of 477).
- How do Portland, OR and Tacoma, WA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Portland, OR $90,919 (114th of 434), Tacoma, WA $85,884 (134th of 434) among US cities. Portland, OR ranks better.
- How do Portland, OR and Tacoma, WA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Portland, OR $581,500 (345th of 434), Tacoma, WA $479,600 (320th of 434) among US cities. Tacoma, WA ranks better.
- Where does Portland, OR beat Tacoma, 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; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 53.8% vs 34.5%; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 24.1 vs 28.8.
- Where does Tacoma, WA beat Portland, OR most clearly?
- Tacoma, WA ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 92.8 vs 107.0; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.0 vs 105.2; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3,938.5 vs 5,036.7.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Portland, OR or Tacoma, WA.