Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tyler, TX
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Tyler leads 15 of 23 categories
Tyler
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $500k less ($205,200 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $704/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,817)
58% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.3%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $38,666/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $38,666 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
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tyler
Key Differences at a Glance
Tyler
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
58% lower
391.2 vs 925.9 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$500k less
$205,200 vs $705,000
Tyler
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$38,666
$101,722 vs $63,056/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tyler, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,200 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,113 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,056 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TYLER ISD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.7" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,440 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tyler's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 15 of 23 categories. Tyler wins 15 and Washington wins 8. 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 Tyler to Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,200 vs $705,000 median home), income ($63,056 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tyler, TX and Washington, DC are about 1,121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.