City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Washington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,954 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Washington and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 80 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Washington 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 Washington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Washington and Anaheim are 2,282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $221 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $95,227 in Anaheim, down $14,643 (13%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 143 in Anaheim, down 80 points (36%).
The move
Anaheim and Washington are 2,282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,954 a month in Washington, down $221 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $109,870 in Washington, up $14,643 (15%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 223 in Washington, up 80 points (56%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Washington rent is 10% cheaper than Anaheim
Washington
Winner$1,954/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,954 a month in Washington versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Washington is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,652, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Washington still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Anaheim.
Planning to buy in Washington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Washington's median income is 15% higher than Anaheim
Washington
Winner$109,870
Anaheim
$95,227
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $95,227 in Anaheim, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Washington (about $14,643 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, Washington 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
36% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 36% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 33% more comfortable than Washington
Washington
56°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 75/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 56°F (63°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Washington averages around 56°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 33% 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 Washington 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
Washington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,954 a month. Choose Washington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington 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 Washington on this page's weather index by 33%. Washington 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 36% lower than Washington (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
On weather alone, Anaheim is the warmer market (76°F) and Washington the cooler (56°F). Typical leases run $2,175 and $1,954; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Median income is $109,870 in Washington versus $95,227 in Anaheim.
Anaheim wins on climate (76°F vs 56°F); Washington is the better fit if $1,954 rent and $109,870 pay matter more than daily weather.
Safety scores read 36/100 in Washington and 49/100 in Anaheim.
Common questions
Ready to move to Washington?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Washington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Anaheim, plus other cities in DC and CA.
