Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 14 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Rancho Cucamonga
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($452,300 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $6,643/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Households earn $6,643 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$205k less
$452,300 vs $657,400
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$6,643
$105,534 vs $98,891/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
8% lower
293.7 vs 317.7 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 86 ✓ 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 | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 14 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 9 and Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $657,400 median home), income ($98,891 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 837 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.