Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Washington
District of Columbia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
93% less violent crime than Washington
Households earn $33,886 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
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 Washington
Washington, DC
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($705,000 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,817 vs $2,250)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kirkland by $33,886/yr
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$33,886
$135,608 vs $101,722/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
93% lower
60.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Home Value
$233k less
$705,000 vs $937,700
Washington
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 15 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $705,000 median home), income ($135,608 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Washington, DC are about 2,317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.