Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $87,931 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $739k less ($198,500 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1203/mo less ($1,047 vs $2,250)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $87,931/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$87,931
$135,608 vs $47,677/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
93% lower
60.6 vs 891.4 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$739k less
$198,500 vs $937,700
Springfield
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 14 and Springfield wins 8. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($135,608 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Springfield, MA are about 2,418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.