City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 133 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,470 in Arlington.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Arlington is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Arlington has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Arlington are 1,619 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $185 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $75,171 in Arlington, down $15,748 (17%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 132 in Arlington, down 133 points (50%).
The move
Arlington and Portland are 1,619 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $185 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $90,919 in Portland, up $15,748 (21%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 265 in Portland, up 133 points (101%).
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Portland and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Arlington rent is 11% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,655 in Portland, so Arlington is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,220, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Arlington still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Portland.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
Portland's median income is 21% higher than Arlington
Portland
Winner$90,919
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Portland (about $15,748 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Portland is the stronger labor market on paper. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
50% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 50% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Arlington. 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, Arlington 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
16% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington scores 16% 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 and professional growth
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 21% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Arlington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Portland (132 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.
Bottom line
Portland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 52/100 in Arlington). That 22-point spread matters more than the $185 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Arlington rent at $1,470/month is still below Portland's $1,655, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Portland and 67°F in Arlington.
Arlington clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Portland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Portland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and Arlington, plus other cities in OR and TX.
