Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Hillsboro leads 12 of 22 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
56% less violent crime than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $71k less ($452,300 vs $523,100)
Households earn $13,015 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,797)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Median income trails Hillsboro by $13,015/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$13,015
$98,891 vs $85,876/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
56% lower
317.7 vs 720.1 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$71k less
$452,300 vs $523,100
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 106.6 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 12 of 22 categories. Hillsboro wins 12 and Portland wins 10. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $523,100 median home), income ($98,891 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Portland, OR are about 14 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.