Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vista 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
Vista
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $27,353 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.2%)
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vista, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Seattle
Homes cost $257k less ($622,900 vs $879,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $27,353/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$27,353
$116,068 vs $88,715/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Vista
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vista
Violent Crime
59% lower
316.4 vs 775.1 per 100k
Vista
Median Home Value
$257k less
$622,900 vs $879,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $622,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vista is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vista leads 12 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 11 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $622,900 median home), income ($116,068 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Vista, CA are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.