Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Marcos, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories
San Marcos
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $20,328 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($415,300 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $575/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,064)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Marcos by $20,328/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Marcos
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
San Marcos
Median Income
$20,328
$99,413 vs $79,085/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
79% lower
222.4 vs 1063.0 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$314k less
$415,300 vs $728,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Marcos, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $728,800⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,064⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,413 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.5:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.5% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Marcos Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,360 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Marcos's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories. San Marcos wins 16 and Tacoma 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 San Marcos to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($728,800 vs $415,300 median home), income ($99,413 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Marcos, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.