Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Renton leads 16 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
35% less violent crime than South Gate
Households earn $25,104 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $464/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,864)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $25,104/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Income
$25,104
$92,292 vs $67,188/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
35% lower
339.2 vs 525.6 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
South Gate
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Renton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 16 of 23 categories. Renton wins 16 and South Gate 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $578,900 median home), income ($92,292 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and South Gate, CA are about 958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.