Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($246,000 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $728/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,742)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $25,463/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kent, WA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $25,463 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$232k less
$246,000 vs $478,400
Albuquerque
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$25,463
$86,966 vs $61,503/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
59% lower
489.7 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 17 and Kent wins 6. 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 Albuquerque to Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $478,400 median home), income ($61,503 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Kent, WA are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.