Should I Move To
Kirkland, Washington is home to about 92,015 people. On cost of living, it lands in the expensive band — 25% above the national average. The median renter pays around $2,250 a month against a typical household income of $135,608. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 54 out of 100 (grade C-), putting it at #332 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kirkland's composite cost-of-living index lands at 125 (100 = US average), which puts it in the expensive band. At $2,250/mo against $135,608 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 20% of income on housing — comfortably under the 30% rule of thumb, which is unusual. Median home value sits around $937,700.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 75°F, winter averages around 38°F. Precipitation totals about 39 inches a year. Almost entirely car-dependent. Sidewalks exist; they just don't connect to where you need to go. On safety, this is a middle-of-the-pack city — neither standout nor concerning. AQI runs about 43 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Kirkland reads as a moderate fit for families. The profile-weighted score is 56/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is climate (96/100); the soft spot is affordability (14/100).
Kirkland doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 49/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is climate (96/100); the soft spot is affordability (14/100).
Kirkland doesn't obviously fit remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 44/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is climate (96/100); the soft spot is affordability (14/100).
Kirkland doesn't obviously fit young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 54/100 — a C-. Its standout dimension is climate (96/100); the soft spot is affordability (14/100).
Our overall score for Kirkland is 54/100 — a C-, sitting at #332 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Kirkland sits at 125 — expensive, 25% above the national average. Median renter pays around $2,250 a month.
Kirkland runs four-season on the weather. Summer's near 75°F, winter's near 38°F; 39 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 24/100. Almost entirely car-dependent. Sidewalks exist; they just don't connect to where you need to go.
Roughly 92,015 people live here, with 63% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 38.
Drop Kirkland into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Kirkland with other Washington cities scored on UrbRank.
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