Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land 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
Sugar Land
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,247
Violent Crime Index
21
Population
110,077 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Households earn $3,361 more per year on average
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 13% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Homes cost $550k less ($387,900 vs $937,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $382/mo less ($1,868 vs $2,250)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Median income trails Kirkland by $3,361/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$3,361
$135,608 vs $132,247/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
22% lower
60.6 vs 78.0 per 100k
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$550k less
$387,900 vs $937,700
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,868⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $132,247 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 21 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 14 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 8 and Sugar Land 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $387,900 median home), income ($135,608 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.