Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clara, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Santa Clara
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Seattle
Households earn $49,284 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Seattle, WA
Pros
Homes cost $560k less ($879,900 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $896/mo less ($1,945 vs $2,841)
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $49,284/yr
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clara
Median Income
$49,284
$165,352 vs $116,068/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
77% lower
182.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Santa Clara
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 80.8°F vs 76.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.9 on the COL index
Seattle
Median Home Value
$560k less
$879,900 vs $1,440,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,440,200⚠ High | $879,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,841⚠ High | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $165,352 ✓ Higher | $116,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.9% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 64.6% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Clara Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.6" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 128,058 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clara's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Santa Clara is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Santa Clara wins 11 and Seattle wins 11. 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 Santa Clara to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,440,200 vs $879,900 median home), income ($165,352 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clara, CA and Seattle, WA are about 709 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.