Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 17 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Vancouver
Washington
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Vancouver
Households earn $13,340 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Homes cost $75k less ($403,400 vs $478,400)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,742)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $13,340/yr
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$13,340
$86,966 vs $73,626/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
16% lower
489.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Vancouver
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$75k less
$403,400 vs $478,400
Vancouver
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 17 of 23 categories. Kent wins 6 and Vancouver wins 17. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $403,400 median home), income ($86,966 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Vancouver, WA are about 122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.