Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Hillsboro
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $39,285 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($308,300 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $570/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,797)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $39,285/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$39,285
$98,891 vs $59,606/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
6% lower
317.7 vs 336.9 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$144k less
$308,300 vs $452,300
Richmond
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hillsboro wins 11 and Richmond wins 11. 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 $308,300 median home), income ($98,891 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Richmond, VA are about 2,382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.