Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Torrance
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Torrance
Households earn $26,054 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $25k less ($937,700 vs $962,300)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Torrance, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $118/mo less ($2,132 vs $2,250)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $26,054/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kirkland
Median Income
$26,054
$135,608 vs $109,554/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
81% lower
60.6 vs 311.2 per 100k
Kirkland
Median Home Value
$25k less
$937,700 vs $962,300
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $2,132⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $109,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 95.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kirkland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Torrance 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($135,608 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Torrance, CA are about 979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.