City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 123 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 $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Raleigh are 2,372 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $83 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $5,524 (6%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 142 in Raleigh, down 123 points (46%).
The move
Raleigh and Portland are 2,372 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $83 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $90,919 in Portland, up $5,524 (6%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 265 in Portland, up 123 points (87%).
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Portland and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 5% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,655 in Portland, so Raleigh is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $83, or $996 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Portland's median income is 6% higher than Raleigh
Portland
Winner$90,919
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Portland (about $5,524 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
46% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 46% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
Raleigh weather is 28% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
57°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 78/100
Raleigh
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 57°F (64°F highs); Raleigh averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Portland averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh 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 and professional growth
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Raleigh 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 28%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Raleigh is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Portland (142 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
Raleigh is cheaper on rent at $1,572/month versus $1,655 in Portland. Portland still leads on pay ($90,919 median income vs $85,395), but Raleigh posts a stronger 49/100 safety score against Portland's 30/100.
Unless you are committed to the Pacific Northwest job market, Raleigh is the easier landing on housing and safety. Portland only wins if the offer letter clears the rent gap and you accept the safety gap.
With only $83 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before you let housing cost pick the city.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and Raleigh, plus other cities in OR and NC.
