Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($251,300 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,797)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $27,155/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
34% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $27,155 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$201k less
$251,300 vs $452,300
Arlington
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$27,155
$98,891 vs $71,736/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
34% lower
317.7 vs 482.9 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Hillsboro wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $452,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.