$100k salary, packing up from Trenton

change
Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of trenton

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

$560

under Trenton, every month

Portland gives you room Trenton doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

30% cheaper than Trenton(vs $2,540/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$198/mo more in state tax than Trenton

vs 6.37% in Trenton

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$560 more than Trenton

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

04a house here

$562k

23% more expensive than Trenton

vs $456k in Trenton

05metro size

2.5M

vs 382k in Trenton

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Trenton barely cracks 171 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 11.2× Trenton's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

23% higher than Trenton

vs 71/100 in Trenton

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

·walk score®

100/100

14% higher than Trenton

vs 88/100 in Trenton

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

54% fewer than Trenton

vs 123 nonstops in Trenton

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