($1,464) Movers From Durham, NC to Portland, OR

What to know before moving from Durham to Portland

Moving from Durham to Portland means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Durham than in Portland, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Durham compares to Portland so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Portland are 10% lower than in Durham, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Durham.
  Home prices in Portland are 33.4% higher than in Durham.
• Income in Portland is 78.3% lower than in Durham, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Portland include KinderCare Learning Centers, Daimler Trucks North America, and Precision Castparts.
• The cost of living for a single person in Portland is 8.2% lower than in Durham. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Portland, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Portland is 2.2% higher than in Durham.
• The unemployment rate in Portland is 68.29% higher than in Durham.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Portland, since the city’s sales taxes in Portland are 100.00% lower than in Durham.
• State income taxes in Portland are 120.00% higher than in Durham.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,752.76 in Portland to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Durham.

How life is different in Durham vs. Portland

• The population of Portland is about 130% greater than Durham, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Portland offers better access to buses and trains than Durham, based on public transportation ratings. Portland has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 4 in Durham. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Portland means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Durham. Portland is considered more walkable than Durham, with a score of 81 out of 100 versus 30 out of 100 in Durham. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, Portland is considered more bike-friendly than Durham in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Portland has a bike-friendliness score of 92 out of 100, while Durham is rated as 38 out of 100.
• You can anticipate the same crime rate in Portland as Durham. With the crime index, lower scores are better because they indicate less crime. Cities with scores of 20 or below, for example, have much fewer instances of crime than those with scores of 80–100.
• Portland is generally as safe as Durham, according to their similar safety index ratings. The ratings are based on how comfortable residents feel about walking alone during the daytime and nighttime and the number of small crimes like theft and muggings.
• The air quality in Portland and Durham is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Durham vs. Portland move

• Weather: Portland has cool and rainy winters and warm and dry summers. Portland also has overcast, wet, and changing weather conditions in fall, winter, and spring, Be sure to check your weather app to avoid rainy days,
• HOA rules: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
• Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
• Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
• State licensing: Moving companies headquartered in Oregon must possess an up-to-date USDOT Number as well as a license issued by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: You can verify a Oregon moving company\’s license by visiting the state'spublic utilities commission
• Moving permits: You won’t need a moving permit in Oregon, though it\’s smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
• Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly toPortland Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations.Released Value Protection is a cost-effective choice as it comes at no extra cost. Movers provide this option without additional charges, but the coverage it offers is minimal. With Released Value Protection, the mover's liability is limited to 60 cents per pound per article.
• Moving checklist: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Where to live in Portland

Now that you’ve chosen "Bridgetown" as your next home, here are a few of the best neighborhoods in Portland to check out.

Helpful moving resources