Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
South Fulton
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $58,120 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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 12% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $696k less ($242,200 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,250)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $58,120/yr
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$58,120
$135,608 vs $77,488/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 470.5 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$696k less
$242,200 vs $937,700
South Fulton
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 107,865 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 12 and South Fulton wins 10. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $242,200 median home), income ($135,608 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and South Fulton, GA are about 2,170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.