Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 12 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Washington
District of Columbia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $128k less ($576,800 vs $705,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Washington by $9,430/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Washington
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,430 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Violent Crime
63% lower
339.2 vs 925.9 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$128k less
$576,800 vs $705,000
Renton
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$9,430
$101,722 vs $92,292/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ 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) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 12 of 23 categories. Renton wins 11 and Washington wins 12. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($92,292 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Washington, DC are about 2,317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.