Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Norfolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $74,610 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Norfolk
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 2.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Norfolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $684k less ($254,200 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1062/mo less ($1,188 vs $2,250)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $74,610/yr
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$74,610
$135,608 vs $60,998/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 469.5 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Norfolk
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$684k less
$254,200 vs $937,700
Norfolk
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 12 and Norfolk wins 10. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $254,200 median home), income ($135,608 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Norfolk, VA are about 2,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.