Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
13
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($304,500 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $483/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,797)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $27,218/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
41% less violent crime than Chicago
Households earn $27,218 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$148k less
$304,500 vs $452,300
Hillsboro
Median Income
$27,218
$98,891 vs $71,673/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
41% lower
317.7 vs 539.8 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 10 and Hillsboro wins 13. 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 Chicago to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $452,300 median home), income ($71,673 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.