Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 14 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Santa Rosa
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
82% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Households earn $43,004 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 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($661,700 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $226/mo less ($2,024 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $43,004/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$43,004
$135,608 vs $92,604/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
82% lower
60.6 vs 342.6 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$276k less
$661,700 vs $937,700
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $2,024⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 8 and Santa Rosa wins 14. 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $661,700 median home), income ($135,608 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 640 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.