Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tampa, FL
Pros
24% less violent crime than Vancouver
Homes cost $70k less ($333,200 vs $403,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,525)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vancouver by $6,824/yr
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $6,824 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
24% lower
444.6 vs 582.3 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$70k less
$333,200 vs $403,400
Tampa
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$6,824
$73,626 vs $66,802/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Tampa wins 14 and Vancouver wins 9. 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 Tampa to Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $403,400 median home), income ($66,802 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Vancouver, WA are about 2,498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.