Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Richmond
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $76,002 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Richmond
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $629k less ($308,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1023/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,250)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $76,002/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$76,002
$135,608 vs $59,606/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
82% lower
60.6 vs 336.9 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$629k less
$308,300 vs $937,700
Richmond
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 14 and Richmond wins 8. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $308,300 median home), income ($135,608 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Richmond, VA are about 2,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.