Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. George, UT
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 St. George leads 19 of 23 categories
St. George
Utah
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Tacoma
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
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.
St. George, UT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Tacoma
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,489)
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $9,752/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 102°F
Households earn $9,752 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than St. George
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
St. George
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
80% lower
210.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
25.1°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$9,752
$79,085 vs $69,333/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,333 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.1:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.6% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washington District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.3" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,174 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. George's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
St. George is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 19 of 23 categories. St. George wins 19 and Tacoma wins 4. 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 St. George to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,200 vs $415,300 median home), income ($69,333 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. George, UT and Tacoma, WA are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.