Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Kirkland
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Vallejo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Vallejo
Households earn $49,496 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 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)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Vallejo
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($515,500 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $356/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $49,496/yr
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$49,496
$135,608 vs $86,112/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
92% lower
60.6 vs 739.8 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$422k less
$515,500 vs $937,700
Vallejo
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kirkland wins 11 and Vallejo wins 11. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $515,500 median home), income ($135,608 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Vallejo, CA are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.