Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 19 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Roseville
California
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($478,400 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $198/mo less ($1,742 vs $1,940)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Roseville by $25,299/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Roseville, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Kent
Households earn $25,299 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Home Value
$118k less
$478,400 vs $596,700
Roseville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Roseville
Median Income
$25,299
$112,265 vs $86,966/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
55% lower
219.2 vs 489.7 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Roseville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 19 of 23 categories. Kent wins 4 and Roseville wins 19. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $596,700 median home), income ($86,966 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Roseville, CA are about 597 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.