Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vancouver, WA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Vancouver leads 15 of 23 categories
Vancouver
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
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.
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($403,400 vs $705,000)
37% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $28,096/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $28,096 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
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
Vancouver
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Violent Crime
37% lower
582.3 vs 925.9 per 100k
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$302k less
$403,400 vs $705,000
Vancouver
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$28,096
$101,722 vs $73,626/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 80.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vancouver, WA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,626 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evergreen School District (Clark) | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.9°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.2" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,700 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vancouver's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 15 of 23 categories. Vancouver 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 Vancouver to Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($403,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($73,626 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vancouver, WA and Washington, DC are about 2,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.