Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle leads 12 of 23 categories
Huntington Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Seattle
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Seattle
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Seattle, WA
Pros
Rent averages $373/mo less ($1,945 vs $2,318)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $97k less ($879,900 vs $976,800)
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Cons
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
73% lower
207.3 vs 775.1 per 100k
Seattle
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Seattle
Median Income
$1,321
$116,068 vs $114,747/yr
Seattle
Median Home Value
$97k less
$879,900 vs $976,800
Seattle
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High | $879,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Seattle is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 12 of 23 categories. Huntington Beach wins 11 and Seattle wins 12. 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 Huntington Beach to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $879,900 median home), income ($114,747 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and Seattle, WA are about 988 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.