City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Toledo is significant: $123,860 median household versus $62,224. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $934 in Toledo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo costs less and Seattle pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Seattle and Toledo are 1,929 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $934 a month in Toledo, down $1,096 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $62,224 in Toledo, down $61,636 (50%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 221 in Toledo, down 31 points (12%).
The move
Toledo and Seattle are 1,929 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $1,096 a month (117%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $123,860 in Seattle, up $61,636 (99%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 252 in Seattle, up 31 points (14%).
Seattle, WA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Seattle and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
54% cheaper
Toledo rent is 54% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Toledo is 54% cheaper. That's roughly $1,096/month back in your pocket ($13,152/year). Over five years that's $65,760 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Seattle, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
99% higher
Seattle's median income is 99% higher than Toledo
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 99% higher in Seattle (about $61,636 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
12% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 12% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Toledo. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Toledo, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Seattle. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Seattle weather is 18% more comfortable than Toledo
Seattle
Winner55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Seattle scores 18% 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 Toledo 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 99% higher ($123,860), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 54% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Seattle (221 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
On rent alone, Toledo undercuts Seattle by $1,096/month ($934 vs $2,030). I would not pick Seattle on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 36/100 in Toledo.
Toledo is the default on housing cost at $934/month versus $2,030 in Seattle; Seattle stays in play when $123,860 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,096 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Toledo, plus other cities in WA and OH.
