Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Washington, DC
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $42,410 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
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 15% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $519k less ($186,500 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,817)
54% less violent crime than Washington
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $42,410/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Washington
Median Income
$42,410
$101,722 vs $59,312/yr
Washington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
54% lower
423.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$519k less
$186,500 vs $705,000
Yuma
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 89.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $705,000⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,817⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,722 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 215⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 244⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | District of Columbia Public Schools | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.8°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.6" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 670,587 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.4% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Washington wins 9 and Yuma wins 14. 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 Washington to Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($705,000 vs $186,500 median home), income ($101,722 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Washington, DC and Yuma, AZ are about 2,134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.