Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 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
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $1228k less ($452,300 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1193/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,990)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $75,615/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $75,615 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Hillsboro
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Hillsboro
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
$1228k less
$452,300 vs $1,680,700
Hillsboro
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$75,615
$174,506 vs $98,891/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
23% lower
244.5 vs 317.7 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Sunnyvale, 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 | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 8 and Sunnyvale wins 15. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($98,891 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Sunnyvale, CA are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.