Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 17 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $405k less ($478,400 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $880/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,622)
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $49,604/yr
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
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Kent
Households earn $49,604 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
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 Home Value
$405k less
$478,400 vs $883,600
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$49,604
$136,570 vs $86,966/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
80% lower
99.2 vs 489.7 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 79.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 17 of 23 categories. Kent wins 6 and Mission Viejo wins 17. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $883,600 median home), income ($86,966 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 981 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.