Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sunnyvale, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories
Sunnyvale
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
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.
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $95,421 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Tacoma
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1265k less ($415,300 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1501/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,990)
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $95,421/yr
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$95,421
$174,506 vs $79,085/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
77% lower
244.5 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.9 on the COL index
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$1265k less
$415,300 vs $1,680,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sunnyvale, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,680,700⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,990⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $174,506 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.0% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cupertino Union | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.4" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 154,573 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories. Sunnyvale wins 16 and Tacoma wins 7. 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 Sunnyvale to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,680,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($174,506 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sunnyvale, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.