Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 13 of 23 categories
South Gate
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Tacoma
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Gate, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,489)
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Tacoma by $11,897/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($415,300 vs $578,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,897 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
South Gate
Violent Crime
51% lower
525.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
South Gate
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Income
$11,897
$79,085 vs $67,188/yr
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$164k less
$415,300 vs $578,900
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $578,900⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 13 of 23 categories. South Gate wins 10 and Tacoma wins 13. 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 South Gate to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $415,300 median home), income ($67,188 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.