Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 14 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($478,400 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $312/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,054)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
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)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.7%)
West Covina, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Kent
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Households earn $9,253 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Kent
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Home Value
$186k less
$478,400 vs $664,500
West Covina
Median Income
$9,253
$96,219 vs $86,966/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
51% lower
239.3 vs 489.7 per 100k
West Covina
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
West Covina
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | West Covina, 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 | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 14 of 23 categories. Kent wins 9 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $664,500 median home), income ($86,966 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and West Covina, CA are about 948 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.