Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 12 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Washington
District of Columbia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($415,300 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Washington by $22,637/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
13% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $22,637 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$290k less
$415,300 vs $705,000
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$22,637
$101,722 vs $79,085/yr
Washington
Violent Crime
13% lower
925.9 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Washington
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 244⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 12 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 11 and Washington wins 12. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $705,000 median home), income ($79,085 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Washington, DC are about 2,330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.