City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Portland and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where Portland and St Petersburg split most clearly. St Petersburg scores 100 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 $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Portland is the easier city on typical rent, but St Petersburg can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. St Petersburg has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and St Petersburg are 2,492 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $8 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $15,727 (17%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 165 in St Petersburg, down 100 points (38%).
The move
St Petersburg and Portland are 2,492 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $8 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $90,919 in Portland, up $15,727 (21%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 265 in Portland, up 100 points (61%).
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Portland and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Portland rent is 1% cheaper than St Petersburg
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Portland is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $8, or $96 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 Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
Portland's median income is 21% higher than St Petersburg
Portland
Winner$90,919
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Portland (about $15,727 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. St Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 38% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in St Petersburg. 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, St Petersburg 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
St Petersburg weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% 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.
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
Pick St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Portland (165 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
Safety is the widest gap: St Petersburg scores 45/100 versus 30/100 in Portland. Typical rent is the same $1,663/month in both cities, so you are choosing streets and blocks, not a cheaper lease.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $75,192 in St Petersburg — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in St Petersburg; Portland only makes sense when you have walked the Portland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,655 rent.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Portland and 77°F in St Petersburg.
Common questions
Ready to move to Portland?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Portland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and St Petersburg, plus other cities in OR and FL.
