Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Everett leads 12 of 22 categories
Everett
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
Seattle
Washington
10
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.
Everett, WA
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($471,200 vs $879,900)
66% less violent crime than Seattle
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $334/mo less ($1,611 vs $1,945)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $38,262/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3219.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $38,262 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Everett
Violent Crime
66% lower
265.1 vs 775.1 per 100k
Everett
Median Home Value
$409k less
$471,200 vs $879,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Seattle
Median Income
$38,262
$116,068 vs $77,806/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Everett leads 12 of 22 categories. Everett wins 12 and Seattle wins 10. 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 Everett to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $879,900 median home), income ($77,806 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Seattle, WA are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.