Portland or San Diego: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Portland wins on more indicators: 7 of 11 against 2.
- Money: Portland 3:1
- Climate and risks: Portland 4:1
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Portland
Indicator
San Diego
Money
Better: Portland (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$77,871
20248% lower
✓$84,312
20248% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,803
2026-09-3039% lower
✗$2,967
2026-09-3065% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$539,403
2026-09-3042% lower
✗$926,961
2026-09-3072% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓105.4 100 = US average
20246% lower
✗111.9 100 = US average
20246% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Portland (4 : 1)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓38 AQI
202446% lower
✗71 AQI
202487% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓6 days per year
202488% lower
✗52 days per year
2024767% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗30 days per year
2016-2025182% higher
✓11 days per year
2016-202565% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,209 °C·days per year
2016-2025
487 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
336 °C·days per year
2016-2025
595 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
125 days per year
2016-2025
29 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
no data for one of the places
1 days per year
2016-2025
no data
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,069 mm per year
2016-2025
249 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
8.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
10.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
67 %
2021-2025
71 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2021-202594% lower
✗3 days per year
2021-20251500% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
82 km
2006-2025
4 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
✗0.10 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
no data
5.2 magnitude
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,537,904 people
2024
3,298,799 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: Portland, San Diego.