Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Hillsboro leads 16 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Richmond
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
66% less violent crime than Richmond
Homes cost $173k less ($452,300 vs $624,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,273 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 82°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Hillsboro by $12,273/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$12,273
$98,891 vs $86,618/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
66% lower
317.7 vs 923.1 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$173k less
$452,300 vs $624,800
Hillsboro
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Hillsboro
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 16 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 16 and Richmond wins 7. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $624,800 median home), income ($98,891 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Richmond, CA are about 524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.