Moving from Portland, OR to Aurora, IL
Moving from Portland, OR to Aurora, IL is a 2087 mi cross-country relocation — about 35h 55m of driving through 7 states. At this range professional movers, a PODS or U-Pack container, or an auto-transport service are usually on the table. The sections below pull current BEA cost-of-living, Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS, BLS wages, and NOAA climate normals for a side-by-side view.
2087 mi · 35h 55m by car · OR → ID → UT → WY → NE → IA → IL
Distance & route
| Route through | OR → ID → UT → WY → NE → IA → IL |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 80, I 84, US 30 |
| Major cities en route | Hillsboro, Vancouver, Gresham, Boise City, Meridian |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Portland | Aurora | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 105.421 | 103.595 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 106.974 | 83.581 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 105.222 | 107.258 | 100.0 |
| Services | 125.114 | 112.01 | 100.0 |
Cost-of-living overlap: BEA RPP for Portland (105.421) and Aurora (103.595) are within a few points of each other.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Homes run dramatically cheaper in Aurora: 1.7% below Portland on Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).
YoY change: Portland -1.1%, Aurora +2.9%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Portland | Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 55°F | 50°F |
| January avg low | 37°F | 16°F |
| July avg high | 80°F | 84°F |
| Annual snowfall | 3.6" | 27.9" |
| Annual precipitation | 44.1" | 39.5" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Heavy-snow city: expect 27.9 in of snowfall annually at Aurora.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: PORTLAND KGW-TV, OR US, AURORA, IL US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Portland | Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 642,715 | 179,867 |
| Median household income | $88,792 | $90,109 |
| Median age | 38.6 | 35.2 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.1% | 22.5% |
| Avg household size | 2.24 | 2.98 |
No material income gap at the median: ACS 2023 puts both cities within 5%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Aurora MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 519,810 | $46,540 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 497,550 | $41,020 |
| Management Occupations | 405,130 | $125,280 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 386,070 | $38,490 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 368,000 | $33,540 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between Oregon and Illinois
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Illinois's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Cascade passes on I-84 and OR-58 can require chains or close entirely during winter storms.
- Lookout Pass (I-90) and Galena Summit (SH-75) require winter tires or chains during storms.
- I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
- I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April — check WYDOT 511 before departure.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- You are moving to a much snowier climate — Aurora averages 27.9 in annually vs 3.6 in at origin. Don't bury the winter gear in a hard-to-reach box.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
- Register to vote in Illinois after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
When is the best time to move from Portland to Aurora?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2087 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
What is the climate difference between Portland and Aurora?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 50.2°F in Aurora vs 54.8°F in Portland (4.6°F colder). Annual snowfall: 27.9 in vs 3.6 in. Annual precipitation: 39.5 in vs 44.1 in.
How does the job market in Aurora compare to Portland?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $49,790 in the Aurora MSA vs $55,940 in the Portland MSA, on total employment of 4,506,800 and 1,206,150 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How far is Aurora, IL from Portland, OR?
The driving distance is 2087 mi and the route typically takes 35h 55m via I 80 and I 84. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How does household income compare in Portland vs Aurora?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $90,109 in Aurora vs $88,792 in Portland — a 1.5% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How much do homes cost in Aurora compared to Portland?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $316,958 in Aurora vs $534,638 in Portland — a 40.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
Is Aurora more expensive than Portland?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Aurora is 1.7% lower than Portland (103.595 vs 105.421, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Portland.
City profiles: Portland, OR · Aurora, IL.