Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $33,928 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 4% higher than Kenosha
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($194,400 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $718/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,797)
10% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $33,928/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$33,928
$98,891 vs $64,963/yr
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Kenosha
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Violent Crime
10% lower
285.7 vs 317.7 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$258k less
$194,400 vs $452,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $64,963 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 11 and Kenosha 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 Hillsboro to Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $194,400 median home), income ($98,891 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Kenosha, WI are about 1,738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.