City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Portland split most clearly. Austin scores 103 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,655 in Portland.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Portland makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Austin has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Portland are 1,708 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $74 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $90,919 in Portland, down $2,739 (3%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 265 in Portland, up 103 points (64%).
The move
Portland and Austin are 1,708 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $74 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $93,658 in Austin, up $2,739 (3%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 162 in Austin, down 103 points (39%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Portland rent is 4% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,729 in Austin, so Portland is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $74, or $888 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Austin's median income is 3% higher than Portland
Austin
Winner$93,658
Portland
$90,919
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $90,919 in Portland, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Austin (about $2,739 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
39% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 39% lower than Portland
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Austin weather is 28% more comfortable than Portland
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland
57°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 78/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); Portland averages about 57°F (64°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Portland averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 28% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Portland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Portland (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Portland
Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,655 a month. Choose Portland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Portland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 45/100 in Austin). That 15-point spread matters more than the $74 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in Austin vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $90,919 in Portland.
If safety drives your move, Austin is the stronger match (45/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Portland, treat $1,655/month rent and $90,919 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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