Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 14 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Redding
Households earn $19,643 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
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)
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($343,000 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $464/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,742)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.9%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $19,643/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$19,643
$86,966 vs $67,323/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
24% lower
489.7 vs 647.8 per 100k
Redding
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Home Value
$135k less
$343,000 vs $478,400
Redding
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
21.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 14 of 23 categories. Kent wins 9 and Redding wins 14. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $343,000 median home), income ($86,966 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Redding, CA are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.