Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 15 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
15
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($202,900 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,797)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $40,542/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $40,542 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$249k less
$202,900 vs $452,300
Baltimore
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$40,542
$98,891 vs $58,349/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
80% lower
317.7 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and Hillsboro wins 15. 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 Baltimore to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $452,300 median home), income ($58,349 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Hillsboro, OR are about 2,368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.