Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Norman leads 17 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($224,900 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $860/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,864)
23% less violent crime than Renton
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $29,443/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $29,443 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
23% lower
260.2 vs 339.2 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$352k less
$224,900 vs $576,800
Norman
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$29,443
$92,292 vs $62,849/yr
Renton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 17 of 23 categories. Norman wins 17 and Renton wins 6. 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 Norman to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $576,800 median home), income ($62,849 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Renton, WA are about 1,531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.