Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 21 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Scottsdale
Arizona
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($452,300 vs $651,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 99°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.5%)
Median income trails Scottsdale by $5,306/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
52% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Households earn $5,306 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$200k less
$452,300 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$5,306
$104,197 vs $98,891/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
52% lower
152.5 vs 317.7 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.6% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 21 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 2 and Scottsdale wins 21. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $651,800 median home), income ($98,891 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.