Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 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
Provo
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $77,665 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Provo
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 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Provo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Provo, UT
Pros
Homes cost $546k less ($391,500 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1161/mo less ($1,089 vs $2,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $77,665/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$77,665
$135,608 vs $57,943/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
71% lower
60.6 vs 206.6 per 100k
Provo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Median Home Value
$546k less
$391,500 vs $937,700
Provo
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 57 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 54 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 12 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $391,500 median home), income ($135,608 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Provo, UT are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.