Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
San Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $697k less ($452,300 vs $1,149,600)
48% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $729/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,526)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $37,119/yr
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,119 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
48% lower
317.7 vs 606.8 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$697k less
$452,300 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Median Income
$37,119
$136,010 vs $98,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 12 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($98,891 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and San Jose, CA are about 572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.