Darien, IL 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.
Darien
75.1
#500 nationally
Portland
72.9
#814 nationally
Portland leads in walk score (65 vs 35). Darien leads in median household income ($110,546 vs $71,853). Portland leads in average commute (21.2 min vs 29.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Darien, IL | Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.1 (#500) | 72.9 (#814) |
| Population | 21,698 | 68,408 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $463,450 | $566,902 |
| Median Household Income | $110,546 | $71,853 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 21.2 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 65 |
| Crime Level | 1.1 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 122 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | D+36.3 |
C
75.1 Score
Darien, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$463,450
Population
21,698
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
35
Midwest
View Darien, IL →
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 →