Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Santa Clara, 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
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Santa Clara
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Santa Clara
Homes cost $503k less ($937,700 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($2,250 vs $2,841)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $29,744/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $29,744 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Violent Crime
67% lower
60.6 vs 182.0 per 100k
Kirkland
Median Home Value
$503k less
$937,700 vs $1,440,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Santa Clara
Median Income
$29,744
$165,352 vs $135,608/yr
Santa Clara
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Santa Clara
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 80.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 80.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Santa Clara is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kirkland wins 11 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($135,608 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Santa Clara, CA are about 714 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.