Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 22 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Households earn $11,135 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
66% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Homes cost $100k less ($352,600 vs $452,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $11,135/yr
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$11,135
$98,891 vs $87,756/yr
Surprise
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
66% lower
109.1 vs 317.7 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$100k less
$352,600 vs $452,300
Surprise
Summer Heat
22.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 22 categories. Hillsboro wins 7 and Surprise 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $352,600 median home), income ($98,891 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Surprise, AZ are about 989 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.