Houston, TX 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Portland
72.9
#814 nationally
Portland leads in walk score (65 vs 48). Portland leads in school rating (7.4 vs 5.5). Portland leads in average commute (21.2 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 72.9 (#814) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 68,408 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $566,902 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $71,853 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 21.2 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 65 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | Low |
| School Rating | 5.5 | 7.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+36.3 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
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 →