Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Huntington Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
13
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.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Kirkland by $20,861/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Kirkland, WA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Huntington Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $20,861 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$20,861
$135,608 vs $114,747/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
71% lower
60.6 vs 207.3 per 100k
Kirkland
Median Home Value
$39k less
$937,700 vs $976,800
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High | $937,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High | $2,250⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 38.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $937,700 median home), income ($114,747 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.