Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Kent leads 14 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,778 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than South Gate
Homes cost $101k less ($478,400 vs $578,900)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,742)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $19,778/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Income
$19,778
$86,966 vs $67,188/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
7% lower
489.7 vs 525.6 per 100k
Kent
Median Home Value
$101k less
$478,400 vs $578,900
South Gate
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 14 of 23 categories. Kent wins 14 and South Gate wins 9. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $578,900 median home), income ($86,966 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and South Gate, CA are about 952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.