Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $40k less ($452,300 vs $491,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$1,012
$98,891 vs $97,879/yr
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$40k less
$452,300 vs $491,800
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 106.6 on the COL index
Norwalk
Violent Crime
73% lower
85.0 vs 317.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $97,879 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 $491,800 median home), income ($98,891 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Norwalk, CT are about 2,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.