Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Indio leads 15 of 23 categories
Indio
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Tacoma
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Homes cost $42k less ($373,200 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $145/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,489)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $10,649/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°F
Households earn $10,649 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Indio
Violent Crime
68% lower
336.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Indio
Median Home Value
$42k less
$373,200 vs $415,300
Indio
Summer Heat
29.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$10,649
$79,085 vs $68,436/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Indio is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indio leads 15 of 23 categories. Indio wins 15 and Tacoma 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 Indio to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $415,300 median home), income ($68,436 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 989 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.