Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 15 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,797)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $34,772/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $34,772 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
Homes cost $130k less ($452,300 vs $582,400)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$34,772
$98,891 vs $64,119/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
43% lower
317.7 vs 558.4 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$130k less
$452,300 vs $582,400
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 15 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 8 and Hillsboro wins 15. 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 East Los Angeles to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $452,300 median home), income ($64,119 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Hillsboro, OR are about 833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.