Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
13
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $712k less ($226,200 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1145/mo less ($1,105 vs $2,250)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $81,513/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $81,513 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Columbia
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$712k less
$226,200 vs $937,700
Columbia
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$81,513
$135,608 vs $54,095/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
92% lower
60.6 vs 769.9 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ 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- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Columbia wins 9 and Kirkland wins 13. 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 Columbia to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $937,700 median home), income ($54,095 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Kirkland, WA are about 2,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.