Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Allen leads 19 of 22 categories
Allen
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Tacoma
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
90% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $42,174 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,747)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $42,174/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$42,174
$121,259 vs $79,085/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
90% lower
106.4 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$25k less
$390,200 vs $415,300
Allen
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
18.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Allen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Allen leads 19 of 22 categories. Allen wins 19 and Tacoma wins 3. 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 Allen to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $415,300 median home), income ($121,259 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Tacoma, WA are about 1,663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.