Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
11
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($248,600 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $800/mo less ($997 vs $1,797)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $38,436/yr
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $38,436 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Columbia
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$204k less
$248,600 vs $452,300
Columbia
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.6% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$38,436
$98,891 vs $60,455/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
9% lower
317.7 vs 347.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 12 and Hillsboro wins 11. 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 Columbia to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $452,300 median home), income ($60,455 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.