Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $40,041 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($234,900 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $775/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,797)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $40,041/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$40,041
$98,891 vs $58,850/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
70% lower
317.7 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$217k less
$234,900 vs $452,300
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories. Hillsboro wins 10 and Lafayette 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $234,900 median home), income ($98,891 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Lafayette, LA are about 1,972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.