Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Kent leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
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 Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (7.6%)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Households earn $6,216 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($418,300 vs $478,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,553 vs $1,742)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 7.6%)
Median income trails Kent by $6,216/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$6,216
$86,966 vs $80,750/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
24% lower
489.7 vs 641.7 per 100k
Kent
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
7.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rialto
Median Home Value
$60k less
$418,300 vs $478,400
Rialto
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $80,750 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rialto is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 12 and Rialto wins 11. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $418,300 median home), income ($86,966 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Rialto, CA are about 951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.