on $100k a year, leaving Worcester

change
Portland, OR cityscape

if you left worcester

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

$46

lighter monthly cost than Worcester

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

17% cheaper than Worcester(vs $2,140/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$312/mo more in state tax than Worcester

vs 5% in Worcester

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$46 more than Worcester

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

04a house here

$562k

16% more expensive than Worcester

vs $486k in Worcester

05metro size

2.5M

vs 867k in Worcester

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Worcester only logs 148 pleasant days.

A month here packs 4.1× the events of Worcester.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

47% higher than Worcester

vs 59/100 in Worcester

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

·walk score®

100/100

11% higher than Worcester

vs 90/100 in Worcester

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

2750% more than Worcester

vs 2 nonstops in Worcester

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