Kennewick vs Seattle
Compare Kennewick, WA and Seattle, WA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Kennewick is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,157/mo versus $1,850/mo in Seattle — a gap of about $693/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,485/mo against $2,645/mo. Across the four public-data screens Seattle comes out ahead (263 vs 243 summed points), though Kennewick still wins specific categories below.
Climate is a real differentiator: Kennewick runs summer highs near 88°F and winter lows near 23°F, while Seattle runs 76°F and 37°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Kennewick; if walkable daily life matters more, Seattle screens stronger on the walkability proxy (36 vs 4). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Kennewick leads 73 to 52 on the cost and climate screen.
Seattle leads 78 to 75 on the work screen.
Seattle leads 67 to 39 on the daily life screen.
Seattle leads 66 to 56 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Kennewick is roughly $68,000 in Seattle using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Kennewick | Seattle | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,157/mo | $1,850/mo | Kennewick |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,485/mo | $2,645/mo | Kennewick |
| Median home value | $330,000 | $628,000 | Kennewick |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 32.9 min | Kennewick |
| Safety score | 40/100 | 44/100 | Seattle |
| School score | 5/10 | 8/10 | Seattle |
| Walkability estimate | 4/100 | 36/100 | Seattle |
| Outdoor score | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.6 | 211.0 | Seattle |
| Mountain distance | 90 mi | 31 mi | Seattle |
| Coast distance | 173 mi | 1 mi | Seattle |
What stands out
Kennewick stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Strong outdoor access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 61 miles
Kennewick tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Seattle stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Strong outdoor access
Seattle tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Kennewick cheaper than Seattle?
On public benchmarks Kennewick is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,157/mo in Kennewick vs $1,850/mo in Seattle; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,485/mo vs $2,645/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Kennewick or Seattle safer?
Seattle screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 40/100 for Kennewick and 44/100 for Seattle (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Kennewick or Seattle?
School screens show 5/10 for Kennewick vs 8/10 for Seattle, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Kennewick and Seattle?
Kennewick: summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 23°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Seattle: 76°F / 37°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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