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Portland vs. Seattle: Which city is better?
- Cost of Living in Portland vs. Seattle
- Safety and Security in Portland vs. Seattle
- Social Services in Portland vs. Seattle
- Education in Portland vs. Seattle
- Education in Portland, OR
- Education in Seattle, WA
- Healthcare in Portland vs. Seattle
- Job Market in Portland vs. Seattle
- Portland’s Top Industries
- Seattle’s Top Industries
- Overall Comparison of Social Services in Portland and Austin
- Diversity and Demographics in Portland vs. Seattle
- Overall Diversity and Demographic Comparison of Portland and Austin
- Culture and Lifestyle in Portland vs. Seattle
- Music, Arts, and Culture
- Recreation and Leisure
- Weather
- Overall Culture and Lifestyle Comparison of Portland and Austin
- Conclusion: Which city is better?
Portland and Seattle do have a lot in common: excellent coffee, cycling, and other fun things to do outdoors.
However, a lot of things need to be considered if you plan to relocate to one of these cities. Trying to decide which one? Let us help you!
Cost of Living in Portland vs. Seattle
The first thing you need to take into account is the cost of living since this will determine if you can afford to live either in Portland or Seattle.
This calculation below, provided by Numbeo, will give you a precise perspective of the lifestyle costs in the said cities.
The latest data from the site shows that to maintain the same quality of life as you can with $5,900.00 in Portland, you would need to have roughly $6,955.56 in Seattle (assuming you rent in both cities).
To further explain the details, we provide a comparison table of the basic expenses in Portland, OR vs. Seattle, WA.
| Cost Range | Portland | Seattle |
| Restaurant | $15 – $73.50 | $20 – $85 |
| Market | $0.90 – $16.58 | $1.07 – $17.25 |
| Transportation | $2.50 (one way ticket) | $2.75 (one way ticket) |
| Utilities (monthly) | $199.14 – basic expenses | $225.79 – basic expenses |
| Sports and leisure | $12.50 – $63.58 | $15.00 – $58.20 |
| Childcare | Approximately up to $16,163.00 | Approximately up to $27,142.86 |
| Clothing and Shoes | $41.00 – $123.86 | $44.00 – $116.14 |
| Rent per month | $2,418.84 – 3 bedrooms | $3,031.79 – 3 bedrooms |
| Salaries and financing | $4,291.12 Average Monthly Net Salary | $7,602.72 Average Monthly Net Salary |
Our Verdict:
So, is it cheaper to live in Portland or Seattle?
The basic expenses in Portland, OR are quite pricey, although it’s still cheaper than living in Seattle. However, the high salary you can get in Seattle (compared to Portland) can make up for the expensive cost of living in Seattle instead.
Do note that this still depends on the type of career you have. That’s why we advise that you also look into their respective job markets to see the potential for career advancement.
Safety and Security in Portland vs. Seattle
Comparing the crime rate between Portland and Seattle is one way of determining which place is safer. To make sure you get accurate numbers, we got help from Bestplaces.net.’s latest data.
*The Crime Indices range from 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime). Crime rates are based on FBI data.
| Portland | Seattle | |
| Property Crime | 72.3 | 76.9 |
| Violent Crime | 21.7 | 32.3 |
*The Crime Indices range from 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime)
Our Verdict:
So, is it safer in Portland or Seattle?
Property crime does happen a lot more in both Portland and Seattle than violent crime. However, the data still shows that Seattle has a higher crime rate – both property and violent – compared to Portland.
Thus, it seems safer in Portland than in Seattle, at least as of writing.
Social Services in Portland vs. Seattle
To be able to determine which of these cities is better, we also look at the social services they have in their community.
Since this is such a broad sector to analyze, we divided this section into three major parts: education, healthcare, and the job market.
Education in Portland vs. Seattle
You only want the best education for you (if you are single and thriving) or your kids. That’s why when relocating to another place, you tend to look at the kind of education system they have.
In order for you to evaluate Portland and Seattle’s put into this sector, check out the brief background we gathered for your reference.
Education in Portland, OR
Based on the report from the Portland Relocation Guide, from United States Census data, 44% of Portland residents over the age of 25 already have a bachelor’s degree. Education is a big deal in the city.
Furthermore, the city has a wide range of educational options that include public and private K-12 schools, a variety of alternative education programs, as well as numerous vocational opportunities.
Education in Seattle, WA
In addition to public schools, Seattle is home to a number of government-funded institutions that provide International Baccalaureate and immersion programs in a number of other languages.
A few privately run foreign schools exist as well, but they also focus on education for special needs. Seattle has a diverse job market nowadays, which is something that requires a high level of education.
Healthcare in Portland vs. Seattle
According to the Jobs Coalition news report from 2014, Portland’s population is in generally good health when compared to other large U.S. metro areas. In fact, they are actually one of Oregon’s healthiest workplaces, according to the Portland Business Journal.
Seattle also cares about its healthcare system. A study by personal finance website WalletHub, ranks Seattle as the second healthiest city in the nation (San Francisco is first, while in the third spot is Portland).
Job Market in Portland vs. Seattle
For the most accurate information regarding the job growth in Portland and Seattle, we have the highlights of the comparison between the cities made by Bestplaces.net for the year 2022.
Highlights for Both Cities:
- Seattle has experienced positive job growth in recent times.
- Portland has a 2.1% lower unemployment rate than Seattle.
- Over the last ten years, Seattle has seen a 25.7% increase in job growth.
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | |
| Current Unemployment | 6.9% | 4.8% |
| Future Job Growth | 42.4% | 43.8% |
| Recent Job Growth | -4.8% | -5.2% |
| 10 Yr. Job Growth | 11.8% | 25.7% |
Portland’s Top Industries
The following are the major industries fueling the job market in Portland, compiled by ‘Portland Relocation Guide’:
- High tech – With high tech employment hitting a 12-year high, this sector in Portland is still expanding. Businesses like Elemental Puppet and Jama Software have increased the sector by about 50% just in the last 10 years.
- Manufacturing – With 11% of the workforce, another significant industry for job growth in the area is manufacturing. Given that Portland is home to advanced electronic manufacturing, this is not surprising at all.
- Athletic/outdoor apparel – The highest number of outdoor recreation and athletic wear businesses can be found in Portland, Oregon. Companies with local headquarters include Columbia Sportswear and Nike.
- Healthcare – One of the economic sectors in Portland with the quickest growth is the healthcare sector. In fact, different healthcare organizations make up three of the top ten employers in the area. As of 2017, Greater Portland had over 54,000 healthcare jobs in the metro area.
Seattle’s Top Industries
The following are the major industries fueling the job market in Seattle according to ‘Seattle Chamber’.
- Aerospace – Washington State is home to 1,300+ aerospace-related companies employing 136,000+ people. While Greater Seattle is home to 900+ aerospace-related companies employing 95,000 people.
- Information Technology – Over the last 10 years, Washington’s tech sector employment has grown by nearly 34%. More than 280,000 workers are employed in information technology services statewide.
- Retail – The retail industry has generated steadily increasing annual sales that generate tax revenues for the state. It set a record of $181.1 billion in taxable retail sales in 2019.
Overall Comparison of Social Services in Portland and Austin
| Portland | Seattle | |
| Education | – Portland residents over the age of 25 already have a bachelor’s degree – Educational options that include public and private K-12 schools, a variety of alternative education programs, as well as numerous vocational opportunities. | – Home to a number of government-funded institutions that provide the International Baccalaureate and immersion programs – foreign schools exist – also focus on education for special needs. |
| Healthcare | – Third healthiest city in the nation according to a study – Wide variety of medical facilities – One of Oregon’s healthiest workplaces | – Second healthiest city in the nation according to a study |
| Job Market | – Portland has a 2.1% lower unemployment rate than Seattle | – Seattle has experienced positive job growth. – Over the last ten years, Seattle has seen a 25.7% increase in job growth. |
Our Verdict:
Are social services better in Portland or Seattle?
Both Portland and Seattle do have their fair share of social services. These cities do have the following in common when it comes to this aspect: the range of education options, positive healthcare system, and great impact on the job market.
However, if you’re most interested in career prospects in general, you should note that it was the city of Seattle that showed a bigger increase in job growth in recent years.
Portland’s job market is getting stronger too, although its growth is not as big as Seattle’s growth.
Diversity and Demographics in Portland vs. Seattle
Demographic information might reveal more about the city than just its size. These kinds of details can help provide a basis for understanding communities as they are now, where they’ve been and where they’re headed.
The following are the compared demographics between Portland and Seattle that we sourced from Bestplaces.net for the year 2022.
| Portland | Seattle | |
| Population | 656,751 | 769,714 |
| Population Density | 4,922.4 | 9,178.5 |
| Median age of population | 36.8 | 35.7 |
| Female Population | 50.5% | 49.8% |
| Male Population | 49.5% | 50.2% |
Diverse cities can create opportunities for their diverse residents, most especially to create new social and support for various cultural communities.
For the overview, we gathered the data from ‘Data USA’ to define by the numbers the diversity in both of the cities.
| Portland | Seattle | |
| White (Non-Hispanic) | 461, 000 | 473, 000 |
| Asian (Non-Hispanic) | 53, 000 | 124, 000 |
| White (Hispanic) | 44, 200 | None. But rather 55,000 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) |
| Foreign-Born Population | 87, 100 | 136, 000 |
Overall Diversity and Demographic Comparison of Portland and Austin
| Portland | Seattle | |
| Demographics | – Smaller population than Seattle. – Has more female population than male population | – A larger population than Portland – Has more male population than female population |
| Diversity | – Almost the same size as White (Hispanic) population to Seattle – The Asian (Non-Hispanic) population is lower than Seattle’s. – But the foreign-born population is greater than the Asian (Non-Hispanic) population. – White (Hispanic) is the least common ethnic group. | – Almost the same size as the White (Hispanic) population in Seattle – No white (Hispanic) people but rather Black or African American (Non-Hispanic). – Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) is the least common ethnic group. |
Our Verdict:
Which is more diverse: Portland or Seattle?
Seattle is a much bigger city compared to Portland, population-wise. Both cities are diverse, with White Non-Hispanic being the most common ethnic group.
The only difference between Portland and Seattle is that the former has a significant number of White Hispanic residents while the latter does not and instead has a significant population of Black or African-American Non-Hispanic people.
Culture and Lifestyle in Portland vs. Seattle
Why is culture important in deciding which city is better? Culture reflects the values of a community, which then determines how the community reacts, responds, and grows.
Knowing the culture of Portland and Seattle will play a major role in how you as a person act in the community. Which of these two cities wants you to nurture yourself as a person? Find the details below.
Music, Arts, and Culture
The arts and culture in Portland are very much alive and well. If you like to spend the day at an art gallery, walk in the museum, or spend your evening at the theater, opera, ballet, or symphony, the City of Rose’s art scene is one you wouldn’t want to miss.
However, if you’re more into music, Seattle will surely welcome your fondness for it. After all, this is the home of music legends like Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, and Pearl Jam.
Their so-called ‘Seattle Symphony’ performs classics as well as innovative takes on well-known soundtracks.
Recreation and Leisure
Both cities are surrounded by greenery and breathtaking scenery and have a lot of parks you can picnic at.
It’s obvious that Seattle and Portland do give importance to being greener communities, where access to breathtaking nature is irresistible.
Like Portland, Seattle has a vast range of attractions and activities, as well as a vibrant nightlife – both value their love of the outdoors and their passion for food, which are all complemented by their quirky uniqueness.
But if you want to party all night long, Portland is your best bet.
Weather
If you love the sun, you’d better head to Seattle (compared to Portland). Well, according to the recent data from Weatherspark, Seattle experiences 152 sunny days on average each year, while the average number of sunny days in Portland is 144.
However, the summer is extremely hot in Portland than in Seattle, at around 80.5 degrees. But the good news is that it’s snowing more in Seattle.
Overall Culture and Lifestyle Comparison of Portland and Austin
| Portland | Seattle | |
| Music, Arts, and Culture | – You can spend the day at an art gallery, walk through the museum, or spend your evening at the theater, opera, ballet, or symphony – Also offers music festivals and performing arts | – Home of music legends. – Classics played by the Seattle Symphony are the best. |
| Recreation and Leisure | – Access to nature scenery (hiking, picnics, etc.) – Perfect city for nightlife, but also do have a wide range of attractions | – Have great access to nature as well – Range of attractions and activities |
| Weather | – Summer is extremely hot | – Has more sunny days but isn’t that hot during the summers compared to Portland – Snows more than Portland |
Our Verdict:
Are the culture and lifestyle better in Portland or Seattle?
Both Portland and Seattle are thriving when it comes to culture and lifestyle.
You can have your much-needed nature adventure in both Portland and Seattle, while also enjoying the art scenes and music festivals they offer. You just have to take note that summer is for Portland while winter is for Seattle.
Conclusion: Which city is better?
It’s difficult to choose between Portland and Seattle because both cities have a lot to offer, either for residents or visitors.
In general, Seattle is preferable for those looking for big-city amenities combined with a genuine metropolis feel. For people looking for a smaller city with a close-knit community and a unique quirkiness, Portland is better.
However, the cost of living is the bigger picture in the scenario.
That’s why if you are on a tight budget, you’d likely much rather choose Portland. But if you’re hugely ambitious and ready to face the pros and cons of a bigger city, Seattle is probably going to be your choice.
