Mount Vernon NY vs Tacoma WA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Mount Vernon, NY

New York · Population: 72,528

  • Median HH Income$77,171
  • Median Home Price$579,771
  • Unemployment6.9%
  • Bachelor's+35.0%

Tacoma, WA

Washington · Population: 220,482

  • Median HH Income$83,857
  • Median Home Price$496,966
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+33.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Mount Vernon
72,528
Tacoma
220,482
Tacoma +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Mount Vernon
N/A
Tacoma
N/A
Median Age
Mount Vernon
41.9
Tacoma
37.3
Tacoma +
Foreign Born
Mount Vernon
31.9%
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
12.2%
White
Mount Vernon
16.2%
Tacoma
59.4%
Tacoma +
Black
Mount Vernon
60.4%
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
10.5%
Asian
Mount Vernon
2.2%
Tacoma
8.8%
Tacoma +
Hispanic
Mount Vernon
18.3%
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
13.1%
Spanish at Home
Mount Vernon
N/A
Tacoma
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Mount Vernon
$77,171
Tacoma
$83,857
Tacoma +
Per Capita Income
Mount Vernon
$42,158
Tacoma
$44,756
Tacoma +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Mount Vernon
$77,425
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
$76,120
Unemployment Rate
Mount Vernon
6.9%
Tacoma
5.3%
Tacoma +
Poverty Rate
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Tacoma
12.0%
Tacoma +
Bachelor's Degree+
Mount Vernon
35.0%
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
33.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Mount Vernon
$579,771
Tacoma
$496,966
Tacoma +
Homeownership Rate
Mount Vernon
42.1%
Tacoma
56.5%
Tacoma +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
434
Tacoma
383
Tacoma +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
1736
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
3409

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
33.2%
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
37.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Tacoma
10.9%
Tacoma +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Mount Vernon
16.3%
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
18.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
9.3%
Tacoma
9.3%
Tie
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
Tacoma
16.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Tacoma
11.9%
Tacoma +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Tacoma
53.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Tacoma
39.2 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
8.1 µg/m³
Tacoma
7.5 µg/m³
Tacoma +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Mount Vernon
75.0%
Tacoma
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Mount Vernon
38.6 min
Tacoma
31.1 min
Tacoma +

Which City is Right for You?

Tacoma leads in median household income at $83,857, while tacoma offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $496,966. On public safety, Tacoma is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Mount Vernon. Tacoma has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Tacoma has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Mount Vernon scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Mount Vernon & Tacoma