Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 20 categories
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16
Population
92,015
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $72,597 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°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 9% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $632k less ($305,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $938/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,250)
73% less violent crime than Kirkland
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $72,597/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$72,597
$135,608 vs $63,011/yr
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Worcester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
73% lower
16.5 vs 60.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$632k less
$305,600 vs $937,700
Worcester
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 79.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 20 categories. Kirkland wins 12 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $305,600 median home), income ($135,608 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Worcester, MA are about 2,447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.