Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $76,296 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Yuma
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 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 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Yuma
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $751k less ($186,500 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1222/mo less ($1,028 vs $2,250)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $76,296/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$76,296
$135,608 vs $59,312/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
86% lower
60.6 vs 423.6 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$751k less
$186,500 vs $937,700
Yuma
Summer Heat
30.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 96,314 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 9 and Yuma wins 13. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $186,500 median home), income ($135,608 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Yuma, AZ are about 1,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.