Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Yakima, WA
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 14 of 23 categories
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Yonkers
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($243,300 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,659)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $22,474/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.6%)
Yonkers, NY
Pros
43% less violent crime than Yakima
Households earn $22,474 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Yakima
Key Differences at a Glance
Yakima
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$213k less
$243,300 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Median Income
$22,474
$78,208 vs $55,734/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
43% lower
311.8 vs 544.3 per 100k
Yonkers
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Yakima, WA | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,734 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.3% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 125⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.3% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Yakima School District | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.6°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,764 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yakima's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 14 of 23 categories. Yakima wins 9 and Yonkers 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 Yakima to Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $456,500 median home), income ($55,734 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Yakima, WA and Yonkers, NY are about 2,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.