Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
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
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $64,241 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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)
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $569k less ($368,800 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $674/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $64,241/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$64,241
$135,608 vs $71,367/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
93% lower
60.6 vs 834.7 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$569k less
$368,800 vs $937,700
Lancaster
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Lancaster wins 9. 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 Kirkland to Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $368,800 median home), income ($135,608 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Lancaster, CA are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.