Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $15,599 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 98°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($368,800 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,742)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $15,599/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Kent
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Income
$15,599
$86,966 vs $71,367/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
41% lower
489.7 vs 834.7 per 100k
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$110k less
$368,800 vs $478,400
Lancaster
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 11 and Lancaster wins 12. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $368,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Lancaster, CA are about 902 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.