Anaheim is a better place to live compared to Washington. Washington is a beautiful place. But the threats of wildfire, too much rain, and the cost of living are just too much. Anaheim is also expensive. But at least this is a fun city. And the weather is perfect.
Washington is perhaps one of the most beautiful corners of the U.S.
It has a lot of natural landscapes that could lure you out of your homes. But then, Washington sees too much rain. And if it is not raining, you might see wildfires ravage some empty (I hope) lot somewhere.
Compared to Anaheim, Washington seems dull.
And that is the reason why I would instead move to Anaheim than Washington.
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What are the pros and cons of Anaheim vs. Washington?
You will not see the day of enormous income taxes in Washington. It has progressive policies and is just a beautiful place, while Anaheim has delicious food, beautiful summers, and is close to L.A.
There is nothing you could compare Washington with when it comes to natural beauty. Plus, the lure of a low-income-tax life is tempting.
But wildfires can be scary. And I don’t particularly appreciate walking on wet pavement. And so, the rain in Washington is not a welcome thought.
Anaheim has beautiful summers and mild winters.
Plus, it is a walking distance from one place to another. It also has delicious food.
And hey, Anaheim is close to L.A.
So, if I feel like going shopping or get my party nerves jiggling, I can drive to L.A. to do just that.
Anaheim Living
Slather yourself with all that delicious food. You get beautiful summers and mild winters. That’s Anaheim!
Pros
I love Anaheim. Do you want to know why?
- Beautiful Summers and Mild Winters
- Delicious
- Hello L.A.!
One of the advantages of living in Anaheim is the weather.
Summers here can be beautifully-warm. Winters are not that harsh either.
Therefore, the city is a great place, especially if you do not like the cold weather.
During summers, expect the weather to be comfortably humid. There will be dry months, yes. But the humid months from January until June sees humidity ranging anywhere from 42.1% to 54.9%.
On the other hand, winters here can be mild and cozy.
Temperatures in Anaheim can be anywhere around 21 degrees Celsius.
Of course, there will be cloudy days. You will also see rainfall once in a while. The nights can also be cold.
But the temperatures here during winter will never be harsh.
Anaheim has different cultural influences.
And because of these many cultural influences, you can try a wide variety of food in Anaheim.
You can also get inspiration here on what you can cook at home.
You will find that Anaheim is famous for its ramen burger, where instead of the traditional burger buns, they use processed wheat noodles.
You can also try out charming cafes and pizzerias in the city.
Another popular choice is the Mac and Cheese Pizza. And yes, you got that right. It is pizza with pasta and cheese as its star ingredients.
That may sound weird. But do try it.
And aside from these establishments, I should emphasize that Anaheim is a multicultural city.
It would always be easier to find Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, and Italian restaurants here. There can even be an Indian and a Persian place here somewhere.
In Anaheim, you will never run out of food choices to try.
Another advantage to living in Anaheim is its proximity to L.A.
You can live in Anaheim and work in L.A. It will be fine.
Remember that L.A. is an expensive city. It is much more costly compared to Anaheim.
If your job is in L.A., you can live here in Anaheim and commute every day. It will never be a problem because proximity-wise, L.A. is near.
Aside from the job opportunities, L.A. also offers entertainment, shopping, and dining options. And so, when bored in Anaheim, you can quickly drive to L.A. for your entertainment fix.
Cons
Here, we discuss a few things that should concern you.
- No, Not Too Many Famous Personalities
- Boring Eventually
Anaheim is near L.A.
But do you think Anaheim is full of celebrities?
If you think it is, you are in for a great disappointment.
Celebrity sightings in Anaheim are rare. You can spend weeks and months waiting for a celebrity to appear and feel disappointed.
L.A. may be near, but these celebrities rarely step into Anaheim soil.
Moving to Anaheim is exciting.
There will be activities to do here every chance you get. But once you experience everything, what else is there to do on weekends?
Well, you can drive to L.A. But if you want to try out new things in Anaheim, there will never be much by then.
The city can give you a decent quality of life. But the things you can do here will eventually get boring in the long run.
But while the city can give you a decent quality of life, the things to do here will eventually get boring in the long run.
Washington Living
A life without income taxes is what you will have in Washington. Plus, it is a beautiful place!
Pros
Living in Washington, you will mostly enjoy these.
- Natural Beauty
- Income Tax
- Progressive Policies
The Pacific Northwest is famous for being one of the prettiest natural sites you can ever see in the U.S.
There is the Cascade Mountain Range. Aside from it, you will also find several forests that you can explore.
Washington also has many national parks you can visit.
Head on to any of these camps and stay the night. Plus, there are hiking trails everywhere you can explore.
Another advantage to living in Washington is the low-income tax.
Taxes in Washington can be as low as 4%, depending on how much you earn.
And yes, this is a big deal already, especially if you compare your salary with somebody from Oregon.
Oregon has an income tax of about 10%.
Its neighbor, Washington, has taxes much lower than that.
Washington DC is tax-friendly to retirees. It is moderately tax-friendly to its workers.
What’s there not to love in Washington?
I am unsure whether you look at these as advantages, but I do.
Washington recently passed progressive policies. There is the legalization of marijuana, marriage equality, and paid family leave.
These are just some of the policies Washington passed.
Cons
How about the things that should concern you in Washington?
Here are a few of them.
- Wildfires
- The Rain
One of the threats in Washington is the possibility of wildfires.
These incidents are common during summer. And recently, these wildfires are becoming more common.
If you are moving to Washington, look for a more convenient location where wildfires are far.
You can always ask the real estate agent whether the location is far from areas where wildfires occur. You better think twice before closing the deal if the property is near.
During winter, Washington ranks 5th in getting the most rain in the country. Such an amount of rain can perhaps be the reason for the gloom most residents experience in certain months of the year.
Such gloom could also be because of the lack of exposure to sunshine.
But if there is anything good that comes out of this, it is that the rain keeps Washington green.
The green, however, does not matter. Because like I said earlier, I hate walking on wet pavement. And when it rains, you will never find me out and about.
Washington or Anaheim – Which is cheaper?
Between the two cities, Washington is cheaper. But the difference is not that much if you look at the numbers. Washington is more expensive than the national average by 52.1%, while Anaheim is more expensive by 52.2%.
| Living Expenses | Anaheim | Washington |
| Housing | 257.1 | 240.8 |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5 | 114.1 |
| Health | 95.9 | 88 |
| Utilities | 97.4 | 106 |
| Transportation | 118 | 135.3 |
Data is based on 100 = U.S. National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
It is a given that cities in California are expensive.
And this is true even in Anaheim.
In Anaheim, housing and rental costs take up most of the budget.
Comparing these costs with the national average, you will find that Anaheim is an uber-expensive city. Its housing costs are 157.1% more than the national average.
However, Washington is not cheap either. Its housing costs are 140.8% more expensive than the national average.
Washington may be cheaper than Anaheim in housing costs, but it is still expensive compared to the rest of the country.
Utility Costs
The cost of utilities is cheaper in Anaheim.
Now, the cost of utilities in Washington can be overwhelming. It is more expensive than the national average by 6%. Compared to the national average, utility costs in Anaheim are about 2.6% cheaper.
These numbers show that moving to Anaheim can be an advantage.
Utilities refer to your electricity consumption, heating, garbage disposal, and internet.
Food and Groceries
Food and groceries are more affordable in Anaheim.
And the difference is vast.
Both cities are more expensive than the national average. Anaheim is 2.5%, while Washington is 14.1% more expensive than the national average.
Such a difference can mean a big thing. And that should especially be true when you move in with your family and prepare your food at home.
Transportation Costs
Transportation costs are more expensive in Washington.
Washington is 35.3% more expensive than the national average, while Anaheim is only at 18%.
The difference, again, is something you should consider. And that should make a big difference in your budget, especially if you drive to work.
Washington may be a beautiful place with lesser traffic, but the transportation price is higher.
Healthcare
In this part of your budget, Washington is cheaper.
It is cheaper than the national average by 12%.
On the other hand, Anaheim is cheaper than the national average by 4.1%.
Such numbers show that moving to Washington is an advantage when it comes to the cost of healthcare.
Is Washington bigger than Anaheim?
Washington DC is bigger in land area than Anaheim. Washington has a land area of 68.3 square miles, while Anaheim has 57.51 square miles.
Washington, despite its size, has more population than one could ever imagine.
As of the end of 2021, Washington recorded 5.3 million residents. On the other hand, Anaheim has a population of 349,000.
Because of its vast population compared to its land size, Washington is denser than Anaheim.
Washington has a population density of 11,535 people per square mile.
Anaheim is less dense, with a population density of 3,832 people per square mile.
Is Washington safer than Anaheim?
Washington has more crimes compared to Anaheim. Anaheim has a crime index of 53.24%, while Washington has a crime index of 58.84%.
The crime index shows the overall picture of a city or a place regarding crimes.
A quick look at both numbers can easily make you say that Anaheim has fewer crimes than Washington.
I believe it should follow that Washington has more crimes since it is more populated than Anaheim.
It is interesting to note that crimes related to racism are few in Anaheim.
Such types of crimes are only at 33.33% in Anaheim. In Washington, it is at 44.74%.
Assault and armed robbery in Anaheim are also moderate at 53.95%, while the same type of crime is at 61.71% in Washington.
Overall, Anaheim is safer than Washington.
Is Anaheim better than Washington?
Between Washington and Anaheim, Anaheim is the better option. Washington is riskier with possibilities of wildfire. It also rains a lot. On the other hand, Anaheim has a pleasant climate, has delicious food, and is close to L.A.
It is tasking to choose between the two cities.
For starters, both are expensive cities. And both are beautiful, too.
But what broke the deal between the two was safety.
Washington has more crimes than Anaheim. And when you move into a new city, it is always important to check this factor out.
Aside from the crimes, there is a high probability of wildfires occurring in Washington. And that could worry me if I live in the area.
Finally, it rains a lot in certain months in Washington.
And if you can remember what I said, I never liked walking on wet pavement.
But that would have to depend on you, though.
Would you live in Washington or Anaheim?
Please let me know.
