Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Provo
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $40,948 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $708/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,797)
35% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $61k less ($391,500 vs $452,300)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $40,948/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$40,948
$98,891 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
35% lower
206.6 vs 317.7 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$61k less
$391,500 vs $452,300
Provo
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 9 and Provo wins 14. 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $391,500 median home), income ($98,891 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Provo, UT are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.