Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $39,983 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Wilmington
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $584/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,797)
Homes cost $134k less ($318,600 vs $452,300)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $39,983/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$39,983
$98,891 vs $58,908/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
34% lower
317.7 vs 482.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$134k less
$318,600 vs $452,300
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 9 and Wilmington wins 14. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($98,891 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Wilmington, NC are about 2,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.