City vs city
Seattle, WA vs Washington, DC
- Rent is 4% lower in Washington (median $1,954/mo vs $2,030/mo in Seattle).
- Homes cost 27% less in Washington ($737k vs $939k median value).
- On a $75k salary, you'd have about $210 more a month after taxes and rent in Seattle.
- Seattle has no state income tax on wages; Washington does.
- Schools rate higher in Seattle (8.6/10 vs 7.2/10).
- Seattle has milder winters (42°F vs 36°F average).
- Washington gets more sun (201 vs 152 sunny days a year).
| Seattle | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,030/mo | $1,954/mo |
| Median home value | $939k | $737k |
| Median household income | $124k | $110k |
| Left each month on $75k (after taxes and rent) | $3,103 | $2,893 |
| State income tax on wages | None | Yes |
| School rating | 8.6/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Violent crime | 2.0× the US rate | 2.1× the US rate |
| Summer average | 77°F | 90°F |
| Winter average | 42°F | 36°F |
| Sunny days a year | 152 | 201 |
| Walk score | 74 | 77 |
| Population | 754,195 | 681,294 |
Population, income, home value and rent: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: single filer, 2026 federal and state rates, before any city income tax. Violent crime per 1,000 residents; US rate 3.6.
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