Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton leads 13 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Renton by $16,048/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Renton, WA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Homes cost $246k less ($576,800 vs $822,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $16,048 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Income
$16,048
$92,292 vs $76,244/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
53% lower
339.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$246k less
$576,800 vs $822,600
Renton
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Renton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Renton leads 13 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 9 and Renton wins 13. 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 Los Angeles to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $576,800 median home), income ($76,244 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Renton, WA are about 951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.