Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 13 of 23 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
Modesto
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
52% less violent crime than Modesto
Households earn $25,516 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Modesto, CA
Pros
Rent averages $300/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,797)
Homes cost $71k less ($381,800 vs $452,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $25,516/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$25,516
$98,891 vs $73,375/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
52% lower
317.7 vs 655.7 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$71k less
$381,800 vs $452,300
Modesto
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 10 and Modesto wins 13. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $381,800 median home), income ($98,891 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Modesto, CA are about 554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.