Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 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
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
91% less violent crime than Rialto
Households earn $54,858 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 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 5% higher than Rialto
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $519k less ($418,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $697/mo less ($1,553 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $54,858/yr
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$54,858
$135,608 vs $80,750/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
91% lower
60.6 vs 641.7 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rialto
Median Home Value
$519k less
$418,300 vs $937,700
Rialto
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $80,750 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 103,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rialto is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 12 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $418,300 median home), income ($135,608 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Rialto, CA are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.