Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($461,500 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $315/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,864)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Renton by $5,736/yr
Renton, WA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Austin
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 97°F
Households earn $5,736 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$115k less
$461,500 vs $576,800
Austin
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$5,736
$92,292 vs $86,556/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
27% lower
339.2 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 and Renton 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 Austin to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $576,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Renton, WA are about 1,757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.