Boston vs Portland: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Boston, MA and Portland, OR, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Boston, MA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 665,945 | 646,101 |
| Median household income | $89,212 | $85,876 |
| Median home value | $684,900 | $523,100 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,981 | $1,530 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Boston, MA and Portland, OR comes down to what you value most. Portland has the lower median home value, and Portland has the lower median rent.
Boston has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Portland?
- By median home value, Portland is the cheaper of the two ($523,100 vs $684,900). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Boston or Portland?
- Median household income is $89,212 in Boston versus $85,876 in Portland, per the US Census Bureau.