City Comparison
Beaverton vs Alamogordo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Beaverton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Beaverton
Alamogordo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Alamogordo is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
27% lower than in Beaverton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Beaverton's average rent is
66% higher than Alamogordo's.
| Metric | Beaverton | Alamogordo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,820 | $1,098 | +66% |
| Groceries | $420 | $346 | +21% |
| Utilities | $175 | $307 | -43% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $150 | +53% |
| Monthly Total | $2,760 | $2,021 | +37% |
| Cost Index | 118 | 90 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Beaverton offers 27% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Alamogordo delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Beaverton is estimated at
$58,000 vs $40,992 in Alamogordo.
| Metric | Beaverton | Alamogordo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $74,500 | $58,673 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $40,992 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,136 idx | 65,192 idx |
| Household Income | $91,500 | $55,952 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Beaverton runs warmer on average — a 55.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Beaverton comes out ahead with 232 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Beaverton sees 6.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Beaverton | Alamogordo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 55.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 81.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 36.60°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 48.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 6.70 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 232 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Alamogordo has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Beaverton.
Beaverton scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Beaverton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Beaverton | Alamogordo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | 62.0/100 | 24.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Beaverton is the larger city
— approximately 3.1x the population of Alamogordo.
From a growth perspective, Beaverton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Beaverton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Beaverton | Alamogordo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,494 | 31,276 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | — |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 37.1 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Beaverton
Advantages
Proximity to major global employers like Nike and high-tech corporate campuses driving strong local salaries.
Exceptionally high park-to-resident ratio with over 100 parks and extensive multi-use trail systems.
Oregon has zero statewide sales tax, reducing out-of-pocket retail and shopping expenses.
Extremely diverse and inclusive community featuring world-class international dining and cultural events.
Robust public transit connectivity via the MAX Light Rail directly into downtown Portland.
Drawbacks
Housing costs and real estate prices sit noticeably higher than the national median.
Frequent overcast skies and high annual rainfall lead to long stretches of grey winter weather.
Traffic congestion along major commuter corridors like Highway 217 during peak rush hours.
State income taxes in Oregon are among the highest in the country.
Competitive rental market driven by low vacancy rates and steady regional in-migration.
Alamogordo
Advantages
The cost of living in Alamogordo is 10% lower than the national average, making it an affordable place to reside.
The housing market is stable and affordable, with the median home sale price at $235,000 as of May 2026.
Holloman Air Force Base provides a strong and stable economic foundation for the city.
Residents have easy access to unique natural attractions, including the stunning White Sands National Park.
CHRISTUS Health Alamogordo received an 'A' Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2026, indicating high quality healthcare.
Drawbacks
The city has limited public transportation options and a low walkability score of 24, leading to high car dependency.
The average annual salary of $58,673 in Alamogordo is lower than the national average.
Job growth in Alamogordo is modest, with a 0.736% employment growth rate from 2023 to 2024.
The projected population growth rate for Alamogordo in 2026 is relatively flat at 0.0%.
The city's safety index of 49 suggests a need for improvement in its overall safety profile.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Beaverton
#330Oregon, USA
60.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,820
Avg Salary
$74,500
Cost Index
118
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
232/yr
Avg Temp
55.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
83
Business
75
Alamogordo
#477New Mexico, USA
54.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,098
Avg Salary
$58,673
Cost Index
90
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
24.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.70%
Livability
70
Business
65
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