Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Hemet leads 13 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $300k less ($277,200 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $507/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,864)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $42,391/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $42,391 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (4.2%)
20% less violent crime than Hemet
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Median Home Value
$300k less
$277,200 vs $576,800
Hemet
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$42,391
$92,292 vs $49,901/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
20% lower
339.2 vs 424.8 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 105,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hemet leads 13 of 23 categories. Hemet wins 13 and Renton 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 Hemet to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $576,800 median home), income ($49,901 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Renton, WA are about 987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.