Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 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
Madison
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $60,713 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $611k less ($326,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $959/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,250)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $60,713/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$60,713
$135,608 vs $74,895/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
76% lower
60.6 vs 256.0 per 100k
Madison
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$611k less
$326,600 vs $937,700
Madison
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Madison
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Madison 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $326,600 median home), income ($135,608 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Madison, WI are about 1,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.