on $100k a year, leaving Poughkeepsie

change
Portland, OR cityscape

instead of poughkeepsie

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

$175

lighter monthly cost than Poughkeepsie

A near-tie on cost. What separates Portland is the life around the numbers.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

19% cheaper than Poughkeepsie(vs $2,198/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$242/mo more in state tax than Poughkeepsie

vs 5.85% in Poughkeepsie

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$175 more than Poughkeepsie

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

04a house here

$562k

42% more expensive than Poughkeepsie

vs $395k in Poughkeepsie

05metro size

2.5M

vs 679k in Poughkeepsie

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Poughkeepsie barely cracks 153 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 12.3× Poughkeepsie's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

30% higher than Poughkeepsie

vs 67/100 in Poughkeepsie

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

·walk score®

100/100

19% higher than Poughkeepsie

vs 84/100 in Poughkeepsie

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

1040% more than Poughkeepsie

vs 5 nonstops in Poughkeepsie

04 · see also

if portland appeals, also worth a look:

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