Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 15 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Rent averages $733/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,222)
Homes cost $189k less ($415,300 vs $604,300)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $32,796/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
Temecula, CA
Pros
86% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $32,796 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$189k less
$415,300 vs $604,300
Temecula
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Temecula
Median Income
$32,796
$111,881 vs $79,085/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
86% lower
151.5 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Temecula
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Temecula is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 15 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 8 and Temecula 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 Tacoma to Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $604,300 median home), income ($79,085 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Temecula, CA are about 991 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.