Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 15 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Reno
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Reno
Households earn $13,893 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Reno, NV
Pros
Rent averages $382/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $16k less ($462,100 vs $478,400)
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $13,893/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$13,893
$86,966 vs $73,073/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
8% lower
489.7 vs 529.6 per 100k
Reno
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Median Home Value
$16k less
$462,100 vs $478,400
Reno
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 15 of 23 categories. Kent wins 8 and Reno wins 15. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $462,100 median home), income ($86,966 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Reno, NV are about 554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.