Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $25,490 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Tampa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
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
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($333,200 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $442/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,864)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $25,490/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$25,490
$92,292 vs $66,802/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
24% lower
339.2 vs 444.6 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Home Value
$244k less
$333,200 vs $576,800
Tampa
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Renton wins 9 and Tampa wins 14. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $333,200 median home), income ($92,292 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Tampa, FL are about 2,516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.