Berkeley, CA vs Portland, ME
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.
Berkeley
59.6
#1947 nationally
Portland
72.9
#814 nationally
Portland leads in cost of living index (118 vs 222). Berkeley leads in median household income ($104,716 vs $71,853). Portland leads in average commute (21.2 min vs 30.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 59.6 (#1947) | 72.9 (#814) |
| Population | 118,962 | 68,408 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,460,437 | $566,902 |
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $71,853 |
| Average Commute | 30.4 min | 21.2 min |
| Walk Score | 85 | 65 |
| Crime Level | 17.5 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 222 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+36.3 |
F
59.6 Score
Berkeley, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,460,437
Population
118,962
Crime
High
Walk Score
85
Pacific
View Berkeley, CA →
C-
72.9 Score
Portland, ME
Foodie paradise on the coast
Median Home
$566,902
Population
68,408
Crime
Low
Schools
B+
Northeast
View Portland, ME →