Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Renton leads 13 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Homes cost $772k less ($576,800 vs $1,348,700)
43% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $452/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,316)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $44,397/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,397 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 77°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Violent Crime
43% lower
339.2 vs 596.5 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$772k less
$576,800 vs $1,348,700
Renton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Renton
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$44,397
$136,689 vs $92,292/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Renton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 13 of 23 categories. Renton wins 13 and San Francisco 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 Renton to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($92,292 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and San Francisco, CA are about 675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.