Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Salt Lake City
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $14,609 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Salt Lake City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $488/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Homes cost $20k less ($458,600 vs $478,400)
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $14,609/yr
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$14,609
$86,966 vs $72,357/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
43% lower
489.7 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$20k less
$458,600 vs $478,400
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories. Kent wins 10 and Salt Lake City wins 13. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $458,600 median home), income ($86,966 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 684 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.