Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle leads 11 of 21 categories
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($576,800 vs $879,900)
56% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $81/mo less ($1,864 vs $1,945)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $23,776/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
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $23,776 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Violent Crime
56% lower
339.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$303k less
$576,800 vs $879,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Seattle
Median Income
$23,776
$116,068 vs $92,292/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Seattle leads 11 of 21 categories. Renton wins 10 and Seattle wins 11. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $879,900 median home), income ($92,292 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Seattle, WA are about 12 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.