Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
14
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $735k less ($202,900 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1015/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,250)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $77,259/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $77,259 more per year on average
96% less violent crime than Baltimore
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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 10% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$735k less
$202,900 vs $937,700
Baltimore
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$77,259
$135,608 vs $58,349/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
96% lower
60.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Baltimore 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 Baltimore to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $937,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Kirkland, WA are about 2,322 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.