Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
13
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
36% less violent crime than Fairfield
Homes cost $94k less ($452,300 vs $546,200)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,047)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
36% lower
317.7 vs 498.0 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$94k less
$452,300 vs $546,200
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield 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 Fairfield to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $452,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Hillsboro, OR are about 504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.