Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 14 of 22 categories
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Tacoma
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $7,881 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,742)
Homes cost $63k less ($415,300 vs $478,400)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Kent by $7,881/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$7,881
$86,966 vs $79,085/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
54% lower
489.7 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$63k less
$415,300 vs $478,400
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 14 of 22 categories. Kent wins 8 and Tacoma wins 14. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($86,966 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Tacoma, WA are about 15 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.