Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Hillsboro
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
47% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,649 vs $1,797)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Median income trails Hillsboro by $16,220/yr
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($452,300 vs $576,900)
Households earn $16,220 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.8%)
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
47% lower
168.5 vs 317.7 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
Hillsboro
Median Income
$16,220
$98,891 vs $82,671/yr
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$125k less
$452,300 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 17.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 106,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Bend is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Hillsboro wins 7. 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 Bend to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $452,300 median home), income ($82,671 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Hillsboro, OR are about 129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.