Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Reno
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $62,535 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Reno
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 93°F
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 10% higher than Reno
Reno, NV
Pros
Homes cost $476k less ($462,100 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $890/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,250)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $62,535/yr
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$62,535
$135,608 vs $73,073/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
89% lower
60.6 vs 529.6 per 100k
Reno
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Median Home Value
$476k less
$462,100 vs $937,700
Reno
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Reno wins 9. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $462,100 median home), income ($135,608 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Reno, NV are about 575 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.