Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos 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 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($478,400 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,064)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
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)
Median income trails San Marcos by $12,447/yr
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Marcos, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,447 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Home Value
$250k less
$478,400 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
San Marcos
Median Income
$12,447
$99,413 vs $86,966/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
55% lower
222.4 vs 489.7 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 19 of 23 categories. Kent wins 4 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $728,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and San Marcos, CA are about 1,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.