Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $69,521 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $690k less ($247,900 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1185/mo less ($1,065 vs $2,250)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $69,521/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$69,521
$135,608 vs $66,087/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
77% lower
60.6 vs 262.0 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$690k less
$247,900 vs $937,700
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $247,900 median home), income ($135,608 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 2,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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