Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories
Inglewood
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,806
Tacoma
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Tacoma by $11,522/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $274k less ($415,300 vs $689,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $11,522 more per year on average
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,666)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Inglewood
Violent Crime
37% lower
674.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Income
$11,522
$79,085 vs $67,563/yr
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$274k less
$415,300 vs $689,700
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories. Inglewood wins 9 and Tacoma wins 14. 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 Inglewood to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($67,563 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.