Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 14 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Overland Park
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876
Violent Crime Index
49
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Overland Park
Households earn $34,732 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Overland Park
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Homes cost $576k less ($361,800 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $872/mo less ($1,378 vs $2,250)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $34,732/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$34,732
$135,608 vs $100,876/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
67% lower
60.6 vs 184.4 per 100k
Overland Park
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$576k less
$361,800 vs $937,700
Overland Park
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $100,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 62.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 8 and Overland Park wins 14. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $361,800 median home), income ($135,608 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Overland Park, KS are about 1,501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.