$100k a year, no longer in Huntsville

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Portland, OR cityscape

next stop after huntsville

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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#2

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Affordable cities near national parks and wilderness

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Most walkable cities in America

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Best affordable cities to live car-free

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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 work-life balance

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Best cities for a $75k salary

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#10

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Best cities for a $100k salary

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Best cities for outdoor athletes

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#8

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Best cities for cyclists

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$720

the monthly cost of moving past Huntsville

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

30% more expensive than Huntsville(vs $1,374/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$312/mo more in state tax than Huntsville

vs 5% in Huntsville

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$720 less than Huntsville

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

04a house here

$562k

78% more expensive than Huntsville

vs $316k in Huntsville

05metro size

2.5M

vs 527k in Huntsville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Huntsville keeps to 177 pleasant days a year.

284% more happening than in Huntsville.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

50% higher than Huntsville

vs 58/100 in Huntsville

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

·walk score®

100/100

43% higher than Huntsville

vs 70/100 in Huntsville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

533% more than Huntsville

vs 9 nonstops in Huntsville

04 · see also

cities that play in portland's register:

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