Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ 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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($310,000 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,797)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $32,516/yr
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $32,516 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Glendale
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$142k less
$310,000 vs $452,300
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$32,516
$98,891 vs $66,375/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
35% lower
317.7 vs 488.4 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 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 | 128⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale 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 Glendale to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $452,300 median home), income ($66,375 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,005 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.