Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton leads 12 of 23 categories
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Renton
Renton, WA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Norwalk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $16k less ($576,800 vs $593,100)
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
Norwalk
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Income
$1,033
$92,292 vs $91,259/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
9% lower
339.2 vs 374.4 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$16k less
$576,800 vs $593,100
Renton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 105,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 11 and Renton 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 Norwalk to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $576,800 median home), income ($91,259 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Renton, WA are about 962 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.