Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 13 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Homes cost $471k less ($466,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $865/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $71,129/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $71,129 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Arden-Arcade
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$471k less
$466,300 vs $937,700
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$71,129
$135,608 vs $64,479/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
88% lower
60.6 vs 518.1 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 13 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 13 and Kirkland wins 9. 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 Arden-Arcade to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $937,700 median home), income ($64,479 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.