Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $33,130 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $456k less ($423,500 vs $879,900)
49% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,945)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $33,130/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$33,130
$116,068 vs $82,938/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
49% lower
394.4 vs 775.1 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$456k less
$423,500 vs $879,900
Sparks
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 9 and Sparks 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 Seattle to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $423,500 median home), income ($116,068 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Sparks, NV are about 571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.