Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 14 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Hillsboro
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Median income trails Hillsboro by $18,648/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($452,300 vs $919,700)
Households earn $18,648 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$18,648
$98,891 vs $80,243/yr
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$467k less
$452,300 vs $919,700
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 17.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 106,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 9 and Hillsboro wins 14. 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 Boulder to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $452,300 median home), income ($80,243 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Hillsboro, OR are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.