Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orange, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 23 categories
Orange
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orange, CA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,613 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Washington
Washington, DC
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($705,000 vs $848,200)
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,817 vs $2,148)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Orange
Median Income
$7,613
$109,335 vs $101,722/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
76% lower
226.1 vs 925.9 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Home Value
$143k less
$705,000 vs $848,200
Washington
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,148⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,335 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Orange Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 138,728 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange'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, Orange leads 13 of 23 categories. Orange wins 13 and Washington wins 10. 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 Orange to Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($848,200 vs $705,000 median home), income ($109,335 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orange, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,281 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.