Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
10
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($242,300 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,797)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $51,093/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $51,093 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$210k less
$242,300 vs $452,300
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$51,093
$98,891 vs $47,798/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
22% lower
317.7 vs 406.1 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Hillsboro wins 10. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $452,300 median home), income ($47,798 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Hillsboro, OR are about 2,222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.