Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Hillsboro
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
48% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,797)
Homes cost $24k less ($428,000 vs $452,300)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Hillsboro
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Households earn $4,712 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Violent Crime
48% lower
165.8 vs 317.7 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$24k less
$428,000 vs $452,300
Clifton
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$4,712
$98,891 vs $94,179/yr
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 106,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 11 and Hillsboro 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 Clifton to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $452,300 median home), income ($94,179 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Hillsboro, OR are about 2,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.