Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Torrance
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($452,300 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,132)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $10,663/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Households earn $10,663 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$510k less
$452,300 vs $962,300
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Hillsboro
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$10,663
$109,554 vs $98,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Torrance, 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 | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 11 and Torrance wins 12. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $962,300 median home), income ($98,891 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Torrance, CA are about 844 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.