Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Denton leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $584k less ($296,100 vs $879,900)
74% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $681/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,945)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $44,147/yr
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $44,147 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
74% lower
204.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$584k less
$296,100 vs $879,900
Denton
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$44,147
$116,068 vs $71,921/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Denton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 15 of 23 categories. Denton wins 15 and Seattle 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 Denton to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $879,900 median home), income ($71,921 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Seattle, WA are about 1,645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.