Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Hillsboro leads 13 of 22 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
15% less violent crime than Norwalk
Homes cost $141k less ($452,300 vs $593,100)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Hillsboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$7,632
$98,891 vs $91,259/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
15% lower
317.7 vs 374.4 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$141k less
$452,300 vs $593,100
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $91,259 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 13 of 22 categories. Hillsboro wins 13 and Norwalk wins 9. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $593,100 median home), income ($98,891 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Norwalk, CA are about 843 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.