Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $3,826 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Cost of living runs 13% higher than San Tan Valley
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 Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($304,000 vs $576,800)
31% less violent crime than Renton
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $135/mo less ($1,729 vs $1,864)
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Median income trails Renton by $3,826/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$3,826
$92,292 vs $88,466/yr
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
31% lower
235.7 vs 339.2 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$273k less
$304,000 vs $576,800
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
27.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Renton wins 10 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $304,000 median home), income ($92,292 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,133 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.