Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Tempe
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $63,586 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Tempe
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tempe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $556k less ($382,100 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $778/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,250)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $63,586/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$63,586
$135,608 vs $72,022/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 470.3 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$556k less
$382,100 vs $937,700
Tempe
Summer Heat
29.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 12 and Tempe wins 10. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($135,608 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.