Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 11 of 21 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($184,200 vs $243,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yakima by $7,425/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yakima, WA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $7,425 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$59k less
$184,200 vs $243,300
Knoxville
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Median Income
$7,425
$55,734 vs $48,309/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
26% lower
544.3 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Yakima leads 11 of 21 categories. Knoxville wins 10 and Yakima wins 11. 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 Knoxville to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $243,300 median home), income ($48,309 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Yakima, WA are about 2,015 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.