Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 14 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,804 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $470k less ($243,300 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $944/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,958)
9% less violent crime than Anaheim
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $32,804/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$32,804
$88,538 vs $55,734/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
9% lower
544.3 vs 596.2 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$470k less
$243,300 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 14 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 9 and Yakima 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 Anaheim to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($88,538 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Yakima, WA are about 892 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.