Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Hillsboro leads 14 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $54,447 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Trenton
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($111,200 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $620/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,797)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $54,447/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$54,447
$98,891 vs $44,444/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
69% lower
317.7 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Hillsboro
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$341k less
$111,200 vs $452,300
Trenton
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 14 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 14 and Trenton wins 9. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $111,200 median home), income ($98,891 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Trenton, NJ are about 2,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.