Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
10
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
25% less violent crime than Yakima
Households earn $13,703 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 23.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($243,300 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $438/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,452)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Gresham by $13,703/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$13,703
$69,437 vs $55,734/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
25% lower
410.2 vs 544.3 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$168k less
$243,300 vs $411,700
Yakima
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 13 and Yakima 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 Gresham to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($69,437 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Yakima, WA are about 118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.