Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 14 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
14
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($203,900 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $659/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,797)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $37,257/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $37,257 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Grand Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$248k less
$203,900 vs $452,300
Hillsboro
Median Income
$37,257
$98,891 vs $61,634/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
65% lower
317.7 vs 910.1 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 14 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids wins 9 and Hillsboro wins 14. 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 Grand Rapids to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $452,300 median home), income ($61,634 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,837 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.