Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $79,874 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Yakima
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°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 11% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $694k less ($243,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1236/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,250)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $79,874/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$79,874
$135,608 vs $55,734/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
89% lower
60.6 vs 544.3 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$694k less
$243,300 vs $937,700
Yakima
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 96,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($135,608 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Yakima, WA are about 109 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.