Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($184,600 vs $243,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Households earn $3,376 more per year on average
Cons
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 34°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.6%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Indianapolis
Median income trails Indianapolis by $3,376/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Income
$3,376
$59,110 vs $55,734/yr
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$59k less
$184,600 vs $243,300
Indianapolis
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Violent Crime
38% lower
544.3 vs 877.9 per 100k
Yakima
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 12 and Yakima wins 11. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($59,110 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Yakima, WA are about 1,781 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.