Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 15 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($184,600 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,742)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $27,856/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $27,856 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$294k less
$184,600 vs $478,400
Indianapolis
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Indianapolis
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.7°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$27,856
$86,966 vs $59,110/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
44% lower
489.7 vs 877.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 15 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 15 and Kent 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 Indianapolis to Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $478,400 median home), income ($59,110 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Kent, WA are about 1,862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.