Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $42,442 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
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)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $477k less ($403,400 vs $879,900)
25% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,945)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $42,442/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$42,442
$116,068 vs $73,626/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Vancouver
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Violent Crime
25% lower
582.3 vs 775.1 per 100k
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$477k less
$403,400 vs $879,900
Vancouver
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 80.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 11 and Vancouver 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 Seattle to Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $403,400 median home), income ($116,068 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Vancouver, WA are about 137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.