City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Seattle is cheaper. Median rent is $2,030 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Seattle and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 109 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,030 in Seattle and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Seattle is the easier city on typical rent, but Anaheim can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Anaheim has rougher pockets and Seattle has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Seattle and Anaheim are 979 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $145 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $95,227 in Anaheim, down $28,633 (23%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 143 in Anaheim, down 109 points (43%).
The move
Anaheim and Seattle are 979 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $2,030 a month in Seattle, down $145 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $123,860 in Seattle, up $28,633 (30%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 252 in Seattle, up 109 points (76%).
Seattle, WA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Seattle and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Seattle rent is 7% cheaper than Anaheim
Seattle
Winner$2,030/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $2,030 a month in Seattle versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Seattle is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $145, or $1,740 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Seattle? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Seattle's median income is 30% higher than Anaheim
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Anaheim
$95,227
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $95,227 in Anaheim, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Seattle (about $28,633 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. Anaheim can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
43% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 43% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim scores 39% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Seattle if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Seattle is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $2,030 a month. Choose Seattle if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 30% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Anaheim if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Anaheim is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Seattle (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Seattle carries the heavier crime signal on this page (32/100 safety vs 49/100 in Anaheim). That 17-point spread matters more than the $145 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Anaheim vs 32/100 in Seattle), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $95,227 in Anaheim.
If safety drives your move, Anaheim is the stronger match (49/100 safety versus 32/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Seattle, treat $2,030/month rent and $123,860 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Anaheim, plus other cities in WA and CA.
