Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $28,676 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 92°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($207,800 vs $478,400)
89% less violent crime than Kent
Rent averages $525/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $28,676/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$28,676
$86,966 vs $58,290/yr
Lakeland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
89% lower
56.0 vs 489.7 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$271k less
$207,800 vs $478,400
Lakeland
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,217 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 15 of 23 categories. Kent wins 8 and Lakeland wins 15. 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $207,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Lakeland, FL are about 2,534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.