Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Seattle leads 14 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $14,346 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($705,000 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,817 vs $1,945)
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Seattle by $14,346/yr
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$14,346
$116,068 vs $101,722/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
16% lower
775.1 vs 925.9 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Home Value
$175k less
$705,000 vs $879,900
Washington
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 25.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 670,587 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 14 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 14 and Washington wins 9. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $705,000 median home), income ($116,068 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Washington, DC are about 2,324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.