Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Austin
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
11
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $476k less ($461,500 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $701/mo less ($1,549 vs $2,250)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $49,052/yr
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kirkland, WA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $49,052 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$476k less
$461,500 vs $937,700
Austin
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$49,052
$135,608 vs $86,556/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% | 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 | 123⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Austin wins 11 and Kirkland wins 11. 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 Austin to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $937,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Kirkland, WA are about 1,766 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.