Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Kent leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Los Angeles
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($478,400 vs $822,600)
33% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Households earn $10,722 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
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)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Kent by $10,722/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Income
$10,722
$86,966 vs $76,244/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
33% lower
489.7 vs 728.5 per 100k
Kent
Median Home Value
$344k less
$478,400 vs $822,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Los Angeles, 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 ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 12 and Los Angeles wins 11. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $822,600 median home), income ($86,966 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Los Angeles, CA are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.