Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Gresham leads 12 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Seattle
Washington
11
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($411,700 vs $879,900)
47% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $493/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,945)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $46,631/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $46,631 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%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Gresham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Violent Crime
47% lower
410.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$468k less
$411,700 vs $879,900
Gresham
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$46,631
$116,068 vs $69,437/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 12 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 12 and Seattle 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 Gresham to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $879,900 median home), income ($69,437 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Seattle, WA are about 146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.