City Comparison
Lake Oswego vs New York City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lake Oswego scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Lake Oswego
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lake Oswego is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
60% lower than in New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Lake Oswego's average rent is
45% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Lake Oswego | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,866 | $3,382 | -45% |
| Groceries | $0 | $520 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $370 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $130 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $1,866 | $4,652 | -60% |
| Cost Index | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 16% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Lake Oswego | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $84,859 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $61,000 |
| Household Income | $141,549 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Lake Oswego runs warmer on average — a 55°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Lake Oswego comes out ahead with 225 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Lake Oswego sees 12.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Lake Oswego | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 55.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 81.20°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 36.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 54.00 in | in |
| Snowfall | 12.40 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 225 | |
| Humidity | % | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lake Oswego has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
10,500 minutes (175 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Lake Oswego | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | — | 88.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 89.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Lake Oswego is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, New York City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Lake Oswego | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,495 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.60% | — |
| Median Age | 46.7 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 4.90% |
| GDP | — | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Lake Oswego
Advantages
Lake Oswego has a violent crime rate of 0.7 per 1,000 residents, roughly one-fifth of the national average, making it a very safe city.
The median household income in Lake Oswego was $141,549 in 2024, significantly higher than the national average.
Lake Oswego boasts a highly educated population, with 74.8% of persons aged 25 years and over holding a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2024.
The city offers a high quality of life with abundant parks, lake access, and a strong community spirit.
Lake Oswego's median home price of $974,750 in October 2026, while high, indicates a strong and desirable real estate market.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Lake Oswego is notably higher than both the national and Portland metro averages, primarily driven by housing costs.
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Lake Oswego is $1,866 per month, which is above the national average.
Property crime in Lake Oswego, while below the state average, is slightly above the national average.
Rental supply in Lake Oswego is thin due to the city's ownership-oriented nature, making finding rental properties challenging.
Oregon's overall economic activity has been declining, and unemployment is rising at a faster pace than the U.S. average, which could impact the local economy.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Lake Oswego
#68Oregon, USA
69.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,866
Avg Salary
$84,859
Cost Index
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
225/yr
Avg Temp
55.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.60%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
85
Business
70
New York City
#584New York, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/100
Walkability
89.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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