Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $39,836 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Yakima
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($243,300 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1156/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,170)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $39,836/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$39,836
$95,570 vs $55,734/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
69% lower
171.0 vs 544.3 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$354k less
$243,300 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 17 and Yakima 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 Boca Raton to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $243,300 median home), income ($95,570 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Yakima, WA are about 2,605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.