2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Portland, OR

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Highlights
Are people in Portland older or younger than people in Santa Barbara?
- The Median Age in Portland is 1.2 years younger than in Santa Barbara.

Are housing costs cheaper in Portland or Santa Barbara?
- Portland housing costs are 64.8% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Portland or Santa Barbara?
- The average commute for residents of Portland is 9.0 minutes longer than it is for residents of Santa Barbara.

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

Things to do in Portland?
Portland, Oregon is a vibrant city full of culture and fun activities. Spend the day exploring downtown or visit some of the city's many parks, trails and gardens such as Washington Park and Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Enjoy top restaurants, breweries, shopping and nightlife activities around Alberta Street or take in the majestic views from Mount Tabor. For those looking for more adventure and exploration, head out to the Columbia River Gorge or the Cascade Mountains. From its unique attractions to its natural beauty, Portland is sure to keep you busy!

 Santa Barbara, CAPortland, ORUnited States
 Population  Unlock647,176329,725,481
 Median Income$89,243  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock37.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,525,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.9%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.15  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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Reviews for Portland    386 Reviews

I lived in Portland for 19 years (I've also lived in Boise, ID, the Bay Area, Austin, TX and now Nampa, ID). It drives me nuts when people try to give a large city a  More

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One of the best cities in America. Food scene is the best in the world. Weather is preferable over places where you have the same weather year round. I enjoy the  More

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I moved from Houston to Portland about a year ago. I remember reading the reviews on here and it making me second guess moving before I did, so I wanted to come back and  More

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