Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 14 of 22 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Santa Clara
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $988k less ($452,300 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1044/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,841)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $66,461/yr
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,461 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$988k less
$452,300 vs $1,440,200
Santa Clara
Median Income
$66,461
$165,352 vs $98,891/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
43% lower
182.0 vs 317.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Santa Clara, 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 | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 14 of 22 categories. Hillsboro wins 8 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($98,891 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Santa Clara, CA are about 566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.