Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 High Point leads 15 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($196,500 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $834/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,864)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $33,710/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $33,710 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than High Point
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than High Point
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$380k less
$196,500 vs $576,800
High Point
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$33,710
$92,292 vs $58,582/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
25% lower
339.2 vs 454.8 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
High Point is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 15 of 23 categories. High Point wins 15 and Renton 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 High Point to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $576,800 median home), income ($58,582 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Renton, WA are about 2,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.