Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Toledo
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $90,203 more per year on average
94% less violent crime than Toledo
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 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 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Toledo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $839k less ($98,800 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1396/mo less ($854 vs $2,250)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $90,203/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$90,203
$135,608 vs $45,405/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
94% lower
60.6 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$839k less
$98,800 vs $937,700
Toledo
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Toledo wins 9. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $98,800 median home), income ($135,608 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Toledo, OH are about 1,922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.