Head-to-Head · City Comparison
West Palm Beach, FL
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
West Palm Beach
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,310 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Rent averages $600/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,614)
Homes cost $82k less ($243,300 vs $324,800)
5% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $8,310/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$8,310
$64,044 vs $55,734/yr
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
5% lower
544.3 vs 575.8 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$82k less
$243,300 vs $324,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | West Palm Beach, FL | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,800⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,614⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,044 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 61.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,588 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.8% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.9% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
West Palm Beach's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. West Palm Beach wins 13 and Yakima wins 10. 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 West Palm Beach to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,800 vs $243,300 median home), income ($64,044 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
West Palm Beach, FL and Yakima, WA are about 2,586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.