Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Peoria
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $48,849 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Peoria
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $554k less ($383,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,638 vs $2,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $48,849/yr
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$48,849
$135,608 vs $86,759/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
76% lower
60.6 vs 254.7 per 100k
Peoria
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$554k less
$383,600 vs $937,700
Peoria
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
28.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $86,759 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 17.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 7 and Peoria wins 15. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $383,600 median home), income ($135,608 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Peoria, AZ are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.