Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Hillsboro leads 16 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $31,703 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $127k less ($452,300 vs $578,900)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $397/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,797)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $31,703/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$31,703
$98,891 vs $67,188/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
40% lower
317.7 vs 525.6 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$127k less
$452,300 vs $578,900
Hillsboro
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 16 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 16 and South Gate wins 7. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $578,900 median home), income ($98,891 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and South Gate, CA are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.