![]() ![]() Home to heavy hitters like Intel, Tektronix, Pixelworks, Nvidia and Xerox, among many ( many) others.Īnd then there’s Austin, Texas. The reason for the moniker is the large cluster of tech companies in the larger metro area, which includes Beaverton and Hillsboro. Something a lot of folks don’t realize is that Portland has earned a new nickname in recent years: Silicon Forest. The connection to community is yet another draw which is why there seems to be a non-stop influx of people moving to Austin and Portland. You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to farmers markets, small businesses and awesome art. The cities often grace lists applauding cities producing the least waste, providing access to green spaces, offering public transportation and passing initiatives that lessen their impact on the planet.īoth cities operate with the environment in mind and other cities have taken notice.Īlso worth mention - supporting the local community is huge in Portland and Austin. Now that I’ve brought you down (my apologies!) let’s talk about something that both Austin and Portland can proudly boast: they are some of the most environmentally-conscious cities in the country. Both cities are (extremely) environmentally friendly Cost of living compared to national average: Austin: 12% higher | Portland: 29% higher.Median home price | Portland: $570k | Austin: $660k.To call either Austin or Portland affordable is nothing short of laughable. In any case, home prices are astronomical which means people aren’t moving here for the “easy button” lifestyle anymore. In fact, Austin, Texas was the fastest growing city in the country between 2011 – 2016. The same thing happened with Austin, albeit the massive spike in newcomers happened more recently. The glory days were over but they didn’t get the memo. Daily life became less and less affordable and new transplants started finding themselves sticker-shocked upon arrival. The City of Roses attracted artists and burnt-out city dwellers looking for an easier (and more enjoyable) life.īut word spread fast and over time the Portland’s reputation grew (and with it the population). The running joke with Portland in the 90’s was that this was the place 30-year-olds came to retire. Hate to take it down a notch, but let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room - Portland and Austin are alike in that neither city is affordable. Some folks don’t realize that the “Keep Portland Weird” motto came from Austin, but it’s true. Whereas in Austin a lot of folks move for employment assuming the entire city is liberal, only to realize there’s a constant battle between the liberal city and Republican-heavy state government. As mentioned earlier, Portland is in a liberal bubble, all of the neighboring cities are politically aligned so being liberal is the norm. Austin is liberal first, employed second. PORTLAND OREGON KEEP IT WEIRD PROFESSIONALFor starters, Austin attracts more professional (read: “normal”) folks than Portland due to industry and location – lest you forget, Texas is part of the Bible Belt.Īs such, PDX has slightly weirder folks by virtue and a more homogeneous liberal culture supported by local and state politics. It’s easy to feel relaxed and light-hearted in both places, but there are (Very slight) variations in the overall vibe. One of the most glaring similarities between Portland and Austin is the easy-going vibe of both cities. One of the biggest political differences between Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon (in my opinion) is that Austin serves as a bastion in a sea of red, whereas Portland aligns with the status quo of its west coast neighbors (Seattle and San Francisco).įirst, let’s talk about the similarities between Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon There’s no denying that both Austin and Portland are liberal cities, but Portland is marginally more so based on voting patterns. Likewise in Multnomah County (Portland’s County), 79.2% of residents voted Democrat. In the last presidential election 71.4% of Travis County residents (Austin’s County) voted Democrat. Which city is more liberal, Portland or Austin?īoth Portland and Austin are strongly liberal cities. In terms of landmass, Austin is almost double the size of Portland largely due to urban sprawl (which I’ll cover shortly). As of 2020, the population of Portland is 650,000 while the population of Austin is 966,000. Population-wise, Austin, Texas is twice as big as Portland, Oregon. I’m not one for small talk, so let’s get to it! So many folks compare Austin, Texas to Portland, Oregon and I though it would be fun to compare the two based on firsthand experience and actual stats. I grew up in Portland (spent 30 years there!) before moving to Austin for a career change. Are you trying to figure out the similarities and differences between Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas? I think I can help. ![]()
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