Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$135,608
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
San Francisco
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
90% less violent crime than San Francisco
Homes cost $411k less ($937,700 vs $1,348,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 77°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Property crime (3929.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Violent Crime
90% lower
60.6 vs 596.5 per 100k
Kirkland
Median Home Value
$411k less
$937,700 vs $1,348,700
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Kirkland
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 76.5°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$1,081
$136,689 vs $135,608/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 23.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 59.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 14 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($135,608 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and San Francisco, CA are about 690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.