Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Hillsboro
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
57% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Households earn $49,336 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($452,300 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,353)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $49,336/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$49,336
$148,227 vs $98,891/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
57% lower
138.1 vs 317.7 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.6% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$185k less
$452,300 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $98,891 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 17.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 106,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 17 and Hillsboro wins 6. 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 Highlands Ranch to Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $452,300 median home), income ($148,227 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Hillsboro, OR are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.