Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
12
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $555k less ($383,000 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $786/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,250)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $56,582/yr
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Households earn $56,582 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$555k less
$383,000 vs $937,700
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$56,582
$135,608 vs $79,026/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
92% lower
60.6 vs 715.6 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Colorado Springs wins 10 and Kirkland wins 12. 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 Colorado Springs to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $937,700 median home), income ($79,026 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Kirkland, WA are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.