Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 14 of 21 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
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $56,523 more per year on average
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 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 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)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $522k less ($415,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $761/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,250)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $56,523/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$56,523
$135,608 vs $79,085/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
94% lower
60.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$522k less
$415,300 vs $937,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 14 of 21 categories. Kirkland wins 14 and Tacoma wins 7. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($135,608 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Tacoma, WA are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.