Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 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
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $71,564 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
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)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $613k less ($324,800 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $636/mo less ($1,614 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $71,564/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$71,564
$135,608 vs $64,044/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
89% lower
60.6 vs 575.8 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$613k less
$324,800 vs $937,700
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kirkland wins 11 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($135,608 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.