Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Kent leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Oakland
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
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 $883,800)
75% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $107/mo less ($1,742 vs $1,849)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
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
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.8%)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,423 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 78°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Violent Crime
75% lower
489.7 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Kent
Median Home Value
$405k less
$478,400 vs $883,800
Kent
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 78.3°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$7,423
$94,389 vs $86,966/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Kent is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 12 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $883,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Oakland, CA are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.