Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton leads 12 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,424 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (5229.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Renton, WA
Pros
Homes cost $704k less ($576,800 vs $1,280,300)
47% less violent crime than Berkeley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,067)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Berkeley by $12,424/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$12,424
$104,716 vs $92,292/yr
Renton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Violent Crime
47% lower
339.2 vs 638.8 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$704k less
$576,800 vs $1,280,300
Renton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Renton
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Renton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 11 and Renton wins 12. 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 Berkeley to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $576,800 median home), income ($104,716 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Renton, WA are about 664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.