Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
34% less violent crime than Mesa
Households earn $25,125 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($327,700 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,797)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $25,125/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$25,125
$98,891 vs $73,766/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
34% lower
317.7 vs 482.7 per 100k
Mesa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$125k less
$327,700 vs $452,300
Mesa
Summer Heat
23.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 9 and Mesa wins 14. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($98,891 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Mesa, AZ are about 1,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.