Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $53,534 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Rent averages $894/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $150k less ($243,300 vs $393,700)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $53,534/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$53,534
$109,268 vs $55,734/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$150k less
$243,300 vs $393,700
Yakima
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 96,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Yakima leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 9 and Yakima wins 11. 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 Germantown to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($109,268 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Yakima, WA are about 2,221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.