Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 18 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Orange
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($478,400 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,148)
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orange by $22,369/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Orange, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $22,369 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
$370k less
$478,400 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$22,369
$109,335 vs $86,966/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
54% lower
226.1 vs 489.7 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Orange
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 18 of 23 categories. Kent wins 5 and Orange wins 18. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $848,200 median home), income ($86,966 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Orange, CA are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.