$100k a year, no longer in Clarksville

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Portland, OR cityscape

from clarksville

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

in our guides

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Best cities for families who love the outdoors

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Most livable cities in America

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Best cities for mild four-season weather

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Best places to move in 2026

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Best cities for parks and green space

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Best cities for a $100k salary

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,173

the monthly cost of moving past Clarksville

Portland is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

33% more expensive than Clarksville(vs $1,337/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$729/mo more in state tax than Clarksville

vs 0% in Clarksville

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$1,173 less than Clarksville

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

04a house here

$562k

91% more expensive than Clarksville

vs $294k in Clarksville

05metro size

2.5M

vs 337k in Clarksville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Clarksville only logs 173 pleasant days.

61.5× the events of Clarksville, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

71% higher than Clarksville

vs 51/100 in Clarksville

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

·walk score®

100/100

20% higher than Clarksville

vs 83/100 in Clarksville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

21% more than Clarksville

vs 47 nonstops in Clarksville

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