Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Yakima
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $46,031 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($243,300 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $46,031/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Hoover
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$46,031
$101,765 vs $55,734/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
86% lower
78.0 vs 544.3 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Median Home Value
$123k less
$243,300 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 96,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 17 and Yakima 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 Hoover to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $243,300 median home), income ($101,765 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Yakima, WA are about 1,985 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.