Detroit or Portland: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Portland wins on more indicators: 7 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Detroit 3:1
- Climate and risks: Portland 0:6
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Detroit
Indicator
Portland
Money
Better: Detroit (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$68,889
202412% lower
✓$77,871
202413% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,514
2026-09-3016% lower
✗$1,803
2026-09-3019% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$264,316
2026-09-3051% lower
✗$539,403
2026-09-30104% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓100.3 100 = US average
20245% lower
✗105.4 100 = US average
20245% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Portland (0 : 6)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗55 AQI
202445% higher
✓38 AQI
202431% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗11 days per year
202483% higher
✓6 days per year
202445% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗34 days per year
2016-202511% higher
✓30 days per year
2016-202510% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗19 days per year
2016-20256300% higher
✓0 days per year
2016-202598% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗0.1 days per year
2016-2025
✓0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
39 days per year
2016-2025
2 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,277 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,209 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
520 °C·days per year
2016-2025
336 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
104 days per year
2016-2025
125 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9 days per year
2016-2025
1 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
942 mm per year
2016-2025
1,069 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
8.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
69 %
2021-2025
67 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗21 days per year
2021-202510200% higher
✓0 days per year
2021-202599% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
624 km
2006-2025
82 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
4,400,578 people
2024
2,537,904 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Detroit, Portland.