Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($198,000 vs $415,300)
44% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $300/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,489)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tacoma by $19,492/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,492 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than San Antonio
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Violent Crime
44% lower
594.1 vs 1063.0 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$217k less
$198,000 vs $415,300
San Antonio
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$19,492
$79,085 vs $59,593/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 15 and Tacoma wins 8. 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 San Antonio to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($59,593 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Tacoma, WA are about 1,773 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.