Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 18 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Raleigh
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $8,335 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($347,000 vs $478,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,742)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Kent by $8,335/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$8,335
$86,966 vs $78,631/yr
Raleigh
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$131k less
$347,000 vs $478,400
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 18 of 23 categories. Kent wins 5 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $347,000 median home), income ($86,966 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Raleigh, NC are about 2,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.