Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($452,300 vs $791,000)
30% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,797 vs $1,989)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
30% lower
317.7 vs 455.3 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$339k less
$452,300 vs $791,000
Hillsboro
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, 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 | $791,000⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $98,891 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton'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, Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories. Fullerton 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 Fullerton to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $452,300 median home), income ($99,279 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Hillsboro, OR are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.