

New York, NY vs Seattle, WA
Seattle, WA comes out ahead of New York, NY on 24 of 42 statistics where one end is better, to 17 with 1 ties. New York, NY leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics.
42 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 1 tie. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 17
- Avg. percentile
- 35
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 24
- Avg. percentile
- 46
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,546,038 1st of 477 | 792,909 18th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $80,483 tied 163rd of 434 | $123,860 49th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $777,600 380th of 434 | $938,600 394th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 17.9% 299th of 434 | 9.88% 113th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 112.6 tied 421st of 460 | 111.1 tied 411th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $86,310 tied 41st of 460 | $91,790 tied 34th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,821 331st of 434 | $2,030 tied 369th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 656.5 306th of 395 | 698.7 318th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyNew York, NY · 5 statistics
- EconomicsSeattle, WA · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 149.7 129th of 395 | 975.9 392nd of 395 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 183.0 193rd of 395 | 733.9 376th of 395 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 17.9% 299th of 434 | 9.88% 113th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 90.5% 260th of 434 | 94.5% 93rd of 434 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 2,272.9 253rd of 395 | 4,419.6 382nd of 395 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 40.3 432nd of 434 | 26.0 311th of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $80,483 tied 163rd of 434 | $123,860 49th of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 41.6% 142nd of 434 | 68.4% 37th of 434 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 127.0 tied 362nd of 460 | 92.8 tied 262nd of 460 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 110.3 tied 455th of 460 | 104.0 tied 356th of 460 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3.3 188th of 395 | 4.4 232nd of 395 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,821 331st of 434 | $2,030 tied 369th of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $61,430 tied 50th of 460 | $72,610 tied 24th of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.8 tied 433rd of 460 | 106.8 tied 449th of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 148.6 tied 386th of 460 | 151.3 tied 400th of 460 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $777,600 380th of 434 | $938,600 394th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 656.5 306th of 395 | 698.7 318th of 395 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 112.6 tied 421st of 460 | 111.1 tied 411th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $86,310 tied 41st of 460 | $91,790 tied 34th of 460 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, New York, NY or Seattle, WA?
- Seattle, WA comes out ahead of New York, NY on 24 of 42 statistics where one end is better, to 17 with 1 ties. New York, NY leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, New York, NY or Seattle, WA?
- New York, NY has a population of 8,546,038 (1st of 477 US cities) and Seattle, WA has 792,909 (18th of 477).
- How do New York, NY and Seattle, WA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: New York, NY $80,483 (tied 163rd of 434), Seattle, WA $123,860 (49th of 434) among US cities. Seattle, WA ranks better.
- How do New York, NY and Seattle, WA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): New York, NY $777,600 (380th of 434), Seattle, WA $938,600 (394th of 434) among US cities. New York, NY ranks better.
- Where does New York, NY beat Seattle, WA most clearly?
- New York, NY ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 149.7 vs 975.9; Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 183.0 vs 733.9; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,272.9 vs 4,419.6.
- Where does Seattle, WA beat New York, NY most clearly?
- Seattle, WA ranks far ahead on Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 9.88% vs 17.9%; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 94.5% vs 90.5%; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 26.0 vs 40.3.
More matchups
Other comparisons with New York, NY or Seattle, WA.
- Austin, TX vs New York, NY
- Charlotte, NC vs New York, NY
- Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
- Columbus, OH vs New York, NY
- Dallas, TX vs New York, NY
- Denver, CO vs New York, NY
- Detroit, MI vs New York, NY
- El Paso, TX vs New York, NY
- Austin, TX vs Seattle, WA
- Charlotte, NC vs Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL vs Seattle, WA
- Columbus, OH vs Seattle, WA
- Dallas, TX vs Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO vs Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI vs Seattle, WA
- El Paso, TX vs Seattle, WA