Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Lynn
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $65,562 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Lynn
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 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 6 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)
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $495k less ($442,800 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $739/mo less ($1,511 vs $2,250)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $65,562/yr
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$65,562
$135,608 vs $70,046/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
89% lower
60.6 vs 574.6 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Lynn
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lynn
Median Home Value
$495k less
$442,800 vs $937,700
Lynn
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 100,653 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lynn is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 14 and Lynn wins 8. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $442,800 median home), income ($135,608 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Lynn, MA are about 2,479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.