Best for affordability: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois looks like the easiest place here to live with less financial drag. It comes out ahead on rent burden and rent.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Portland vs Chicago on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 3 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.
PortlandChicago
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on climate comfort, weaker on daily convenience.
Potential dealbreaker: Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on rent burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 66,881 | 2,664,452 |
| Population Density | N/A | 12.0k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 62 ft(19 m) | 587 ft(179 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $540,162 | $304,487 |
| Median Rent | $2,311 | $2,191 |
| Median Income | $71,498 | $71,673 |
| Rent Burden | 39% | 37% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 276 days/yr | 212 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 57°F | 59°F |
| Comfort Score | 47/100Mixed | 47/100Mixed |
| Temp Swing | 44°F | 48°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 49"(124 cm) | 44"(112 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 17"(43 cm) | 11"(28 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 38 (Avg)11 days > 100 | AQI 44 (Avg)19 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 60 | 72 |
| Transit Score | 54 | 100 |
| Safety Score | 77 / 100 | 30 / 100 |
| School Rating | 6/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 53%Cable: 92% | Fiber: 33%Cable: 99% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 37.6 years | 35.3 years |
| College Educated | 58% | 42% |
| Remote Workers | 18% | 16% |
| Nature Access | ||
| Local Nature & Reserves | Finding... | Finding... |
| Scouting & Local Help | ||
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner. | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Portland | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Chicago |
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