City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Portland and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 172 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Portland is the easier city on typical rent, but Tampa 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. Tampa has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Tampa are 2,501 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $46 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $75,475 in Tampa, down $15,444 (17%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 93 in Tampa, down 172 points (65%).
The move
Tampa and Portland are 2,501 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $46 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $90,919 in Portland, up $15,444 (20%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 265 in Portland, up 172 points (185%).
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Portland and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Portland rent is 3% cheaper than Tampa
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Portland is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $46, or $552 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
20% higher
Portland's median income is 20% higher than Tampa
Portland
Winner$90,919
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Portland (about $15,444 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. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
65% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 65% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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
Tampa weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa 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 3% 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 20% 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 Tampa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Tampa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 65% lower than Portland (93 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 30/100 in Portland). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,655 in Portland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (62/100 in Tampa vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $75,475 in Tampa.
Tampa is ahead on safety (62/100 vs 30/100); Portland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,655/month rent plus $90,919 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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