Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Orlando leads 16 of 22 categories
Orlando
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
21% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $83k less ($332,700 vs $415,300)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tacoma by $12,793/yr
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $12,793 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
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
Orlando
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Violent Crime
21% lower
835.8 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Orlando
Median Home Value
$83k less
$332,700 vs $415,300
Orlando
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$12,793
$79,085 vs $66,292/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orlando leads 16 of 22 categories. Orlando wins 16 and Tacoma 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 Orlando to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($66,292 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Tacoma, WA are about 2,557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.