Kirkland, WA
Census place 5335940 · pop 92,621
Founder Peter Kirk meant it to be the 'Pittsburgh of the West' with a giant steel mill that went bust in the 1893 panic before making any steel.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide. No wage income tax (a capital-gains excise applies).
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$1,115,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
100/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$2,624/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
60.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
3 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
41 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.72% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
6.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
14.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
96.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
5.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
66.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$150,414 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
21.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
6.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
11.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
Not measured for Kirkland: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Kirkland, WA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Kirkland scores 57/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is physical inactivity and its weakest is housing cost. Washington overall ranks #24 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Kirkland, WA expensive to live in?
- Kirkland has a median home value of $1,115,400 and typical rent around $2,624/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Kirkland, WA?
- Its weakest measured area is housing cost ($1,115,400) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Kirkland, WA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is physical inactivity (11.8%) — 100/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Founder Peter Kirk meant it to be the 'Pittsburgh of the West' with a giant steel mill that went bust in the 1893 panic before making any steel.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.