with $100k coming in, swapping out of Allentown

change
Portland, OR cityscape

if you left allentown

Portland

or · metro 2.5M

photo: Rufina Rusakova / pexels

a dispatch from

portland

OR

45.52°N

122.68°W

Portland is food carts, bridges, donuts shaped like Voodoo dolls, and a low-key obsession with doing things the hard, hand-made way. The 'Keep Portland Weird' bumper sticker is older than most of the influencers who quote it. Mt. Hood pops into view between buildings on clear mornings, and the bike infrastructure puts most American cities to shame. Coffee here is treated like wine.

metro2.5M

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$446

the monthly premium over Allentown

Portland costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

2% cheaper than Allentown(vs $1,809/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$473/mo more in state tax than Allentown

vs 3.07% in Allentown

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$446 less than Allentown

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$562k

57% more expensive than Allentown

vs $359k in Allentown

05metro size

2.5M

vs 874k in Allentown

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Allentown only manages 157 of those.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 4.6× more on the calendar than Allentown.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

19% higher than Allentown

vs 73/100 in Allentown

Closest outdoor draw: Mt. Hood National Forest, 40.4 mi.

·walk score®

100/100

16% higher than Allentown

vs 86/100 in Allentown

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

533% more than Allentown

vs 9 nonstops in Allentown

04 · see also

same energy as portland, different zip code:

see also

albuquerque

$530/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

cincinnati

$629/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

salt lake city

$515/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare portland with:

AlbuquerqueCincinnatiSalt Lake City