Which is better, San Diego, CA or Washington, DC?

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 25 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 12. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, San Diego, CA or Washington, DC?

San Diego, CA has a population of 1,410,522 (8th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).

How do San Diego, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.

How do San Diego, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.

Where does San Diego, CA beat Washington, DC most clearly?

San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1.7 vs 16.6; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,539.0 vs 3,070.2; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.2% vs 91.2%.

Where does Washington, DC beat San Diego, CA most clearly?

Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 106.7 vs 174.2; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.8 vs 108.0; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,954 vs $2,313.

San Diego, CA vs Washington, DC

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 25 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 12. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

37 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

San Diego, CA

Wins: 25
Avg. percentile: 53
Categories led: 2

Washington, DC

Wins: 12
Avg. percentile: 35
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	San Diego, CA	Washington, DC
Population	1,410,522 8th of 477	698,733 22nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$108,077 68th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$906,700 391st of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	11.0% 131st of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	111.9 tied 417th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$79,060 tied 54th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$2,313 395th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	372.3 191st of 395	746.8 329th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetySan Diego, CA · 5 statistics
EconomicsSan Diego, CA · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	San Diego, CA	Washington, DC
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	1.7 119th of 395	16.6 368th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	1,539.0 157th of 395	3,070.2 329th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	95.2% 69th of 434	91.2% 241st of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	372.3 191st of 395	746.8 329th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	23.5 244th of 434	30.0 384th of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	174.2 tied 453rd of 460	106.7 tied 329th of 460
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	11.0% 131st of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	297.6 275th of 395	650.5 371st of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	99.6 tied 265th of 460	102.3 tied 371st of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	108.0 tied 437th of 460	104.8 tied 362nd of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	145.4 117th of 395	193.3 172nd of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$2,313 395th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	51.0% 87th of 434	64.2% 48th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	179.3 tied 434th of 460	151.1 tied 390th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$58,690 tied 70th of 460	$71,060 tied 30th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	111.9 tied 417th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$79,060 tied 54th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$906,700 391st of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$108,077 68th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, San Diego, CA or Washington, DC?: San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 25 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 12. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, San Diego, CA or Washington, DC?: San Diego, CA has a population of 1,410,522 (8th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
How do San Diego, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
How do San Diego, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
Where does San Diego, CA beat Washington, DC most clearly?: San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1.7 vs 16.6; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,539.0 vs 3,070.2; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.2% vs 91.2%.
Where does Washington, DC beat San Diego, CA most clearly?: Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 106.7 vs 174.2; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.8 vs 108.0; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,954 vs $2,313.

More matchups

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