Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories
Anaheim
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($713,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $47,070/yr
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
90% less violent crime than Anaheim
Households earn $47,070 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Home Value
$224k less
$713,600 vs $937,700
Anaheim
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$47,070
$135,608 vs $88,538/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
90% lower
60.6 vs 596.2 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Anaheim wins 8 and Kirkland wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $937,700 median home), income ($88,538 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 984 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.