Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Sunnyvale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Homes cost $1186k less ($494,700 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1327/mo less ($1,663 vs $2,990)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $85,607/yr
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $85,607 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Beaverton
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Beaverton
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$1186k less
$494,700 vs $1,680,700
Beaverton
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.3°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$85,607
$174,506 vs $88,899/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
33% lower
244.5 vs 364.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 11 and Sunnyvale wins 12. 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 Beaverton to Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($88,899 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Sunnyvale, CA are about 561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.