Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 High Point leads 17 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120
Tacoma
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($196,500 vs $415,300)
57% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,489)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $20,503/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 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,503 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than High Point
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Violent Crime
57% lower
454.8 vs 1063.0 per 100k
High Point
Median Home Value
$219k less
$196,500 vs $415,300
High Point
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$20,503
$79,085 vs $58,582/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
High Point is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 17 of 23 categories. High Point wins 17 and Tacoma wins 6. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $415,300 median home), income ($58,582 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Tacoma, WA are about 2,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.