Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Meridian
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Households earn $5,595 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Meridian
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.7%)
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Meridian, ID
Pros
54% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.7%)
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,548 vs $1,797)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $5,595/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$5,595
$98,891 vs $93,296/yr
Meridian
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
54% lower
146.8 vs 317.7 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$27k less
$425,800 vs $452,300
Meridian
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.6% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $93,296 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 4 and Meridian wins 19. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $425,800 median home), income ($98,891 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Meridian, ID are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.