Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails Hillsboro by $17,672/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $540k less ($452,300 vs $992,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $17,672 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,002)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
10% lower
287.2 vs 317.7 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$17,672
$98,891 vs $81,219/yr
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$540k less
$452,300 vs $992,000
Hillsboro
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 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 | 76 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 11 and Hillsboro wins 12. 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 ($992,000 vs $452,300 median home), income ($81,219 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Hillsboro, OR are about 822 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.