Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Hillsboro leads 15 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
57% less violent crime than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,779 more per year on average
Homes cost $63k less ($452,300 vs $515,500)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hillsboro by $12,779/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Income
$12,779
$98,891 vs $86,112/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
57% lower
317.7 vs 739.8 per 100k
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$63k less
$452,300 vs $515,500
Hillsboro
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 15 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 15 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $515,500 median home), income ($98,891 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Vallejo, CA are about 514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.