Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Kirkland
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $56,654 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)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°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 4% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $487k less ($450,500 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $56,654/yr
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$56,654
$135,608 vs $78,954/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
92% lower
60.6 vs 754.9 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$487k less
$450,500 vs $937,700
Sacramento
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kirkland wins 11 and Sacramento wins 11. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $450,500 median home), income ($135,608 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Sacramento, CA are about 632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.