Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix 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
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
60% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $26,799 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $475/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,797)
Homes cost $112k less ($340,200 vs $452,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $26,799/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$26,799
$98,891 vs $72,092/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
60% lower
317.7 vs 799.6 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$112k less
$340,200 vs $452,300
Phoenix
Summer Heat
21.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Phoenix, 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 | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 10 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $340,200 median home), income ($98,891 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.