a landable guide
Portland has 178 pleasant days, an 8.75% income tax, and $1,781 rent. These cities have more sun, lower taxes, and a lower bill.
By Karol Gajda
Portland's constraints stack up in a particular way: 178 pleasant days, which is a lot of gray, one of the highest state income tax rates in the country at 8.75%, and $1,781 rent that has not come with a matching jump in everyday quality of life. The outdoor access is real but you have to drive past the weather to use it.
This list finds cities with at least 200 pleasant days, a state income tax rate under 7%, and rent under $1,700. Weather leads the ranking, with affordability close behind, and every blurb reports the sun gain and the tax line against Portland.
01
Photo by Emanuel Odadjiev on Unsplash
LA · 962k metro
New Orleans tops the Portland exits: 235 pleasant days is 57 more than Portland, $1,612 rent runs $169 less a month, and it charges a 3.0% state income tax against Oregon's 8.75%.
$1,612
median rent / month
235
pleasant days a year
3.0%
state and local income tax
02
AL · 412k metro
Mobile lands second with 225 pleasant days, 47 more than Portland, at $1,302 a month for $479 less, plus a 5.0% state income tax.
$1,302
median rent / month
225
pleasant days a year
5.0%
state and local income tax
03
Photo by Alex Reynolds on Unsplash
SC · 975k metro
Greenville takes third: 24 more pleasant days than Portland, $1,551 rent, $230 less monthly, and a 6.5% state income tax.
$1,551
median rent / month
202
pleasant days a year
6.5%
state and local income tax
04
Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash
NM · 924k metro
Albuquerque pairs 205 pleasant days with $1,489 rent, $292 a month under Portland, and a 5.9% state income tax.
$1,489
median rent / month
205
pleasant days a year
5.9%
state and local income tax
05
Photo by Sarah Mason on Unsplash
NC · 467k metro
Wilmington earns it on sun, cost, and taxes: 57 more pleasant days than Portland, $1,675 rent, a 4.5% state income tax.
$1,675
median rent / month
235
pleasant days a year
4.5%
state and local income tax
06
Photo by Gene Maysonet on Pexels
TX · 872k metro
El Paso is the mid-list Portland alternative that holds up: 222 pleasant days, $308 under Portland, no state income tax.
$1,473
median rent / month
222
pleasant days a year
0%
state and local income tax
07
Photo by Gage LaVergne on Pexels
LA · 414k metro
Lafayette clears the bar with 211 pleasant days, $1,332 median rent, and a 3.0% state income tax.
$1,332
median rent / month
211
pleasant days a year
3.0%
state and local income tax
08
Photo by Larry Hyler on Pexels
FL · 350k metro
Gainesville keeps the sunnier-and-lighter-taxed promise: 28 more pleasant days than Portland at $1,645 a month.
$1,645
median rent / month
206
pleasant days a year
0%
state and local income tax
09
Photo by Curtis Adams on Pexels
NC · 1.5M metro
Raleigh lands near the bottom of the ten and still beats Portland: $1,663 rent, $118 less monthly, a 4.5% state income tax.
$1,663
median rent / month
201
pleasant days a year
4.5%
state and local income tax
10
Photo by Kelsey Wilkerson on Pexels
FL · 410k metro
Ocala rounds out the list: 208 pleasant days, $165 under Portland, no state income tax.
$1,616
median rent / month
208
pleasant days a year
0%
state and local income tax
We rank by 35% weather, 30% affordability, 15% things to do, 15% parks, and 5% walkability, filtered to at least 200 pleasant days, median rent under $1,700, and a state income tax rate under 7%.
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