Tumwater, WA vs Vashon, WA

Tumwater is moderately more affordable than Vashon, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. Tumwater scores 123 compared to 142 for Vashon, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Vashon can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Tumwater is $1,654/month compared to $1,444/month in Vashon — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Vashon has cheaper rent, Tumwater actually has lower median home values ($438,000 vs $717,700).

Median household income in Tumwater is $93,635 compared to $115,750 in Vashon (-19.1%). While Vashon is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Tumwater spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, more than the 15% in Vashon.

Climate-wise, Vashon is notably warmer with an average of 53.7°F compared to 50.5°F in Tumwater. Tumwater receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 39.3" in Vashon.