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Gore vs Grants Pass

Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.

Southland, New Zealand
View Gore profile
#6 in New Zealand
70
Overall Score
VS
Oregon, USA
View Grants Pass profile
#584 in USA
45
Overall Score
Gore scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Gore
Grants Pass
Livability
78
70
Affordability
82
65
Business
68
60
Growth
67
62

Cost of Living

Gore is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 61% lower than in Grants Pass. Housing costs are a major driver: Gore's average rent is 78% lower than Grants Pass's.
MetricGoreGrants PassDiff
Average Rent
$320$1,450-78%
Groceries
$380$450-16%
Utilities
$150$400-63%
Transport
$110$120-8%
Healthcare
$50$150-67%
Monthly Total
$1,010$2,570-61%
Cost Index
82112out of 100

Salary & Income

Grants Pass offers 30% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Grants Pass delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Gore is estimated at $38,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
MetricGoreGrants Pass
Average Salary
$45,000$64,331
Salary Needed
$38,000$58,000
Purchasing Power
54,878 idx57,438 idx
Household Income
$52,000$59,646

Climate Comparison

Gore runs warmer on average — a 49.7°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Gore comes out ahead with 201 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — Gore sees 9 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricGoreGrants Pass
Avg Temp
49.70°F°F
Summer High
48.20°F°F
Winter Low
48.10°F°F
Rainfall
46.40 in in
Snowfall
9.00 in in
Sunny Days
201
Humidity
78.00%74.00%

Commute & Transport

Gore has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Grants Pass. Gore scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Gore leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricGoreGrants Pass
Commute Time
12 min18 min
Transit Score
35.0/10027.0/100
Walkability
68.0/10040.0/100
Traffic Index
22.00
Car Dependency
HighHigh

Economy & Demographics

Grants Pass is the larger city — approximately 0.2x the population of Gore. From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Gore has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricGoreGrants Pass
Population
8,30040,051
Pop. Growth
0.60%0.90%
Median Age
42.040.8
Unemployment
4.50%5.60%
GDP
——

Pros & Cons

Gore
Advantages
Significantly lower median home prices and rental rates compared to New Zealand national averages per REINZ data.
World-class brown trout fishing and immediate proximity to the Mataura River and Hokonui Hills.
Low crime rates and a strong, supportive community safety profile.
Vibrant local culture highlighted by the annual MLCT Go Healthy and Gold Guitar Awards events.
Minimal traffic congestion and short, stress-free daily commutes.
Drawbacks
Limited local public transportation options increase reliance on personal vehicles.
Cooler winter climate requires higher domestic heating investment.
Narrower range of high-paying specialized career sectors locally compared to major cities.
Distance to major tertiary hospitals requires travel to Invercargill or Dunedin for advanced care.
Tight local rental inventory can make finding immediate accommodation challenging.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Gore
#6
Southland, New Zealand
69.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$320
Avg Salary
$45,000
Cost Index
82
Commute
12 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
201/yr
Avg Temp
49.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.60%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
78
Business
68
View Full Profile
Grants Pass
#584
Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
View Full Profile

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