Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Daly City, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories
Daly City
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910
Violent Crime Index
78
Population
103,648 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
14
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.
Daly City, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 77°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Kirkland by $20,698/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Kirkland, WA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Daly City
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $20,698 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Homes cost $135k less ($937,700 vs $1,073,100)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$20,698
$135,608 vs $114,910/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
80% lower
60.6 vs 296.3 per 100k
Kirkland
Median Home Value
$135k less
$937,700 vs $1,073,100
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Kirkland
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 76.5°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Daly City, 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 | $1,073,100⚠ High | $937,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,554⚠ High | $2,250⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,910 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.6" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,648 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 38.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.5% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Daly City'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, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Daly City 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 Daly City to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,073,100 vs $937,700 median home), income ($114,910 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Daly City, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.