Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($189,400 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,797)
8% less violent crime than Hillsboro
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $34,291/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $34,291 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Violent Crime
8% lower
292.6 vs 317.7 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$263k less
$189,400 vs $452,300
Hillsboro
Median Income
$34,291
$98,891 vs $64,600/yr
Hillsboro
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 15 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 15 and Hillsboro wins 8. 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 Dearborn to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $452,300 median home), income ($64,600 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.