Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia 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
Visalia
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
141,466 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Visalia
Households earn $16,634 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Visalia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($316,600 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $575/mo less ($1,289 vs $1,864)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $16,634/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$16,634
$92,292 vs $75,658/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
22% lower
339.2 vs 435.3 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Visalia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Median Home Value
$260k less
$316,600 vs $576,800
Visalia
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $75,658 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 141,466 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 14 of 23 categories. Renton wins 9 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $316,600 median home), income ($92,292 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Visalia, CA are about 784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.