Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Austin leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,797)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hillsboro by $12,335/yr
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
32% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $12,335 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$12,335
$98,891 vs $86,556/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
32% lower
317.7 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 17.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $452,300 median home), income ($86,556 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,717 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.