Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Hillsboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $41,476 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Independence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Independence
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($150,800 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $777/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,797)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $41,476/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$41,476
$98,891 vs $57,415/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
44% lower
317.7 vs 571.2 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$302k less
$150,800 vs $452,300
Independence
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 13 and Independence wins 10. 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 Hillsboro to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $150,800 median home), income ($98,891 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Independence, MO are about 1,518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.