Living in Kirkland, WA offers a unique combination of lakeside beauty and vibrant community life. Known for its stunning waterfront and welcoming atmosphere, Kirkland is an ideal place for families and individuals alike. The city's numerous parks and recreational facilities, such as Juanita Bay Park and Marina Park, provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities and family fun.
Kirkland’s vibrant community life is highlighted by annual events such as the Kirkland Summerfest and the Winterfest. The city boasts a variety of shopping and dining options, from local boutiques and eateries to major retail centers. Kirkland’s extensive park system offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, and enjoying the great outdoors.
The dining options in Kirkland are diverse and delicious, offering everything from fresh seafood to international cuisine. The city’s farmers markets and local events emphasize fresh, locally sourced ingredients. With a welcoming atmosphere and community-focused amenities, living in Kirkland is a great choice for families and young professionals.
Kirkland’s location offers convenient access to both Seattle and Bellevue, making it ideal for commuters. The city is well-connected by major highways and public transportation options, ensuring easy travel.
For those considering a move to the Pacific Northwest, Kirkland stands out as a top choice. Its blend of lakeside charm, excellent amenities, and strong community spirit make living in Kirkland, WA a truly rewarding experience. Whether you’re drawn by its beautiful scenery, recreational opportunities, or convenient location, Kirkland offers a fantastic place to call home.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Crime
This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.
Employment
This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Cost Of Living
Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.
Kirkland is a mid-sized city located in the state of Washington. The city has a population of 94,699 inhabitants. Kirkland has a population density of 5,318 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. The majority of Kirkland residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Kirkland your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 27 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to ascertain if living in Kirkland is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before moving to any new city in Washington, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like commute, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Kirkland and in the areas around Kirkland is a much easier task.
Kirkland has a livability score of 83 out of 100 and is ranked #48 in Washington and #764 in the USA. Compared to the United States average, Kirkland ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! Kirkland also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Kirkland has higher than average scores for the following: crime (B+), education (A+) and housing (B+). Kirkland does not fare well for the following: cost of living (F). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 61 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Kirkland boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.
Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Kirkland have an average test score of 76%, which is well above the US average.
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Kirkland market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
Assuming that Kirkland meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Kirkland. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Kirkland are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Kirkland come in at $1,290,519, which is 162.4% higher than the Washington average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Kirkland, the home price to income ratio is 7.3, which is 35.2% higher than the Washington average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Kirkland | Washington | National |
| Average one way commute | 27min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 67.1% | 72.3% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.1% | 10.2% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 8.7% | 6.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 11.5% | 5.6% | 4.6% |
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