Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mission Viejo, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 17 of 22 categories
Mission Viejo
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Tacoma
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
91% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $57,485 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tacoma
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($415,300 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1133/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,622)
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $57,485/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$57,485
$136,570 vs $79,085/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
91% lower
99.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$468k less
$415,300 vs $883,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mission Viejo, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,600⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,622⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,570 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.4% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 26 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saddleback Valley Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,233 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 22.1% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission Viejo's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 17 of 22 categories. Mission Viejo wins 17 and Tacoma wins 5. 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 Mission Viejo to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,600 vs $415,300 median home), income ($136,570 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mission Viejo, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.