Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Visalia, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Visalia leads 15 of 23 categories
Visalia
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Visalia, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,924 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($243,300 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,289)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Visalia by $19,924/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Visalia
Median Income
$19,924
$75,658 vs $55,734/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
20% lower
435.3 vs 544.3 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Visalia
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 101.3 on the COL index
Yakima
Median Home Value
$73k less
$243,300 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Visalia, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,289 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,658 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.8 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 101⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Visalia Unified | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,466 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Visalia's cost of living index is 101.3 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 15 of 23 categories. Visalia wins 15 and Yakima 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 Visalia to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($75,658 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Visalia, CA and Yakima, WA are about 712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.