Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 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
New York
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $59,001 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
New York, NY
Pros
Rent averages $536/mo less ($1,714 vs $2,250)
Homes cost $206k less ($732,100 vs $937,700)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $59,001/yr
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$59,001
$135,608 vs $76,607/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
91% lower
60.6 vs 671.0 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
New York
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
New York
Median Home Value
$206k less
$732,100 vs $937,700
New York
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $732,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
New York is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 14 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $732,100 median home), income ($135,608 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and New York, NY are about 2,400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.