Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 12 of 21 categories
Kirkland
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
San Marcos
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
73% less violent crime than San Marcos
Households earn $36,195 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($728,800 vs $937,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $186/mo less ($2,064 vs $2,250)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $36,195/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$36,195
$135,608 vs $99,413/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
73% lower
60.6 vs 222.4 per 100k
San Marcos
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
San Marcos
Median Home Value
$209k less
$728,800 vs $937,700
San Marcos
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $728,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $2,064⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $99,413 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 94,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 12 of 21 categories. Kirkland wins 9 and San Marcos wins 12. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $728,800 median home), income ($135,608 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and San Marcos, CA are about 1,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.