Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 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
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $92,158 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $791k less ($146,400 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1372/mo less ($878 vs $2,250)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $92,158/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$92,158
$135,608 vs $43,450/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
95% lower
60.6 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$791k less
$146,400 vs $937,700
Springfield
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 24% 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 $146,400 median home), income ($135,608 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Springfield, MO are about 1,630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.