Boone, NC vs Portland, OR
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Boone
71.1
#1016 nationally
Portland
67.1
#1464 nationally
Portland leads in median household income ($78,423 vs $28,242). Boone leads in average commute (13.8 min vs 26.8 min). Portland leads in walk score (67 vs 49).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boone, NC | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.1 (#1016) | 67.1 (#1464) |
| Population | 19,811 | 635,067 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $491,253 | $534,270 |
| Median Household Income | $28,242 | $78,423 |
| Average Commute | 13.8 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 49 | 67 |
| Crime Level | 2.5 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 128 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+6.0 | D+62.1 |
C-
71.1 Score
Boone, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$491,253
Population
19,811
Crime
Low
Walk Score
49
Southeast
View Boone, NC →
D+
67.1 Score
Portland, OR
Keep Portland Weird
Median Home
$534,270
Population
635,067
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C+
Pacific
View Portland, OR →