Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 12 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Washington
District of Columbia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Washington
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $25,478/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $25,478 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $118k less ($705,000 vs $822,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.1%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
21% lower
728.5 vs 925.9 per 100k
Washington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$25,478
$101,722 vs $76,244/yr
Washington
Median Home Value
$118k less
$705,000 vs $822,600
Washington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Washington
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 670,587 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 41.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 12 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 11 and Washington wins 12. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $705,000 median home), income ($76,244 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.