Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Spokane Valley
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $69,125 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
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 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
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 Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $630k less ($307,700 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1075/mo less ($1,175 vs $2,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $69,125/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$69,125
$135,608 vs $66,483/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
75% lower
60.6 vs 242.1 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$630k less
$307,700 vs $937,700
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 103,761 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Spokane Valley wins 9. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $307,700 median home), income ($135,608 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.