Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Knoxville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $38,657 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Knoxville
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°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 20% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($184,200 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $699/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.8%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $38,657/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$38,657
$86,966 vs $48,309/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
34% lower
489.7 vs 740.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$294k less
$184,200 vs $478,400
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories. Kent wins 9 and Knoxville wins 13. 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 Kent to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $184,200 median home), income ($86,966 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Knoxville, TN are about 2,101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.