Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Hoover leads 20 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Kent
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
84% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Homes cost $112k less ($366,200 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $390/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,742)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Kent, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Hoover
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$14,799
$101,765 vs $86,966/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
84% lower
78.0 vs 489.7 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$112k less
$366,200 vs $478,400
Hoover
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $86,966 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 20 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 20 and Kent wins 3. 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 Hoover to Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $478,400 median home), income ($101,765 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Kent, WA are about 2,075 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.