Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($184,600 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,489)
17% less violent crime than Tacoma
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $19,975/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
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,975 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°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 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
Violent Crime
17% lower
877.9 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$231k less
$184,600 vs $415,300
Indianapolis
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 83.7°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$19,975
$79,085 vs $59,110/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 13 and Tacoma wins 10. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $415,300 median home), income ($59,110 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Tacoma, WA are about 1,873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.