Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 11 of 21 categories
Kirkland
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Orange
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Orange
Households earn $26,273 more per year on average
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 83°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Homes cost $90k less ($848,200 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $102/mo less ($2,148 vs $2,250)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $26,273/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Kirkland
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$26,273
$135,608 vs $109,335/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
73% lower
60.6 vs 226.1 per 100k
Orange
Median Home Value
$90k less
$848,200 vs $937,700
Orange
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $848,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $2,148⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $109,335 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 11 of 21 categories. Kirkland wins 10 and Orange wins 11. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $848,200 median home), income ($135,608 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Orange, CA are about 987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.