Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Hampton leads 15 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $660k less ($219,800 vs $879,900)
68% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $690/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,945)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $51,638/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $51,638 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°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
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Hampton
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
68% lower
247.6 vs 775.1 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$660k less
$219,800 vs $879,900
Hampton
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$51,638
$116,068 vs $64,430/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 15 of 23 categories. Hampton 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 Hampton to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $879,900 median home), income ($64,430 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Seattle, WA are about 2,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.