Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ 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.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $687k less ($250,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $937/mo less ($1,313 vs $2,250)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $62,882/yr
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $62,882 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Fort Worth
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 97°F
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 Fort Worth
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$687k less
$250,300 vs $937,700
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$62,882
$135,608 vs $72,726/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 458.4 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $937,700 median home), income ($72,726 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Kirkland, WA are about 1,655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.