Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $52,024 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
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)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $555k less ($324,800 vs $879,900)
26% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,614 vs $1,945)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 47°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $52,024/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$52,024
$116,068 vs $64,044/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
26% lower
575.8 vs 775.1 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$555k less
$324,800 vs $879,900
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 8 and West Palm Beach wins 15. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $324,800 median home), income ($116,068 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.