Raleigh, NC vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Seattle
66.9
#1491 nationally
Seattle leads in walk score (74 vs 31). Raleigh leads in cost of living index (105 vs 158). Seattle leads in median household income ($110,781 vs $82,424).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71 (#1035) | 66.9 (#1491) |
| Population | 470,763 | 755,078 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $435,237 | $851,471 |
| Median Household Income | $82,424 | $110,781 |
| Average Commute | 24.3 min | 28.8 min |
| Walk Score | 31 | 74 |
| Crime Level | 32.0 | Moderate |
| School Rating | 7.5 | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 158 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+51.7 |
C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, NC →
D
66.9 Score
Seattle, WA
Emerald City tech powerhouse
Median Home
$851,471
Population
755,078
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Pacific
View Seattle, WA →