Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 13 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($452,300 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,064)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hillsboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$277k less
$452,300 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$522
$99,413 vs $98,891/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
30% lower
222.4 vs 317.7 per 100k
San Marcos
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 13 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 10 and San Marcos wins 13. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $728,800 median home), income ($98,891 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and San Marcos, CA are about 909 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.