Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton leads 12 of 21 categories
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($478,400 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,742 vs $1,864)
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 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,326 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Home Value
$98k less
$478,400 vs $576,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Renton
Median Income
$5,326
$92,292 vs $86,966/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
31% lower
339.2 vs 489.7 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 21 categories. Kent wins 9 and Renton wins 12. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $576,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Renton, WA are about 6 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.