Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Concord
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($706,700 vs $937,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $113/mo less ($2,137 vs $2,250)
Cons
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kirkland by $27,819/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kirkland, WA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Concord
Households earn $27,819 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Home Value
$231k less
$706,700 vs $937,700
Concord
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$27,819
$135,608 vs $107,789/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 484.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 38.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Concord 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 Concord to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $937,700 median home), income ($107,789 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 672 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.