Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Renton leads 16 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
38% less violent crime than San Leandro
Homes cost $196k less ($576,800 vs $772,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,864 vs $1,997)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
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
Median income trails San Leandro by $4,849/yr
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 77°F
Households earn $4,849 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Violent Crime
38% lower
339.2 vs 548.7 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$196k less
$576,800 vs $772,700
Renton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Renton
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$4,849
$97,141 vs $92,292/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ 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) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Renton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 16 of 23 categories. Renton wins 16 and San Leandro wins 7. 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 Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $772,700 median home), income ($92,292 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and San Leandro, CA are about 675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.