City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Kirkland, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Kirkland - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

91,614
Residents
$143,533
Median income
$1,022,500
Median home
$2,501
Median rent (state)

Kirkland - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Kirkland places in the 93rd percentile for household income and the 30th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

93rd
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
92nd
percentile, median rent
30th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Kirkland, WA

Kirkland is a small city in Washington, home to 91,614 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Kirkland brings in $143,533 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.9%. Home values in Kirkland run a median of $1,022,500, and the median resident age is 38.2 years. Educational attainment runs 64.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 442 residential building permits were authorized in Kirkland (Construction Slowdown), down 68% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2073.0 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,501 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Kirkland report an average commute of 17.3 minutes, with 55.8% driving alone and 29.1% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

91,614 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$143,533 /yr

Poverty 2.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Kirkland compare to other US cities?

Kirkland measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 93% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 92% pricier than other cities
Safety 30% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Washington, Kirkland ranks #80 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Kirkland against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Washington only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Washington-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Kirkland's strongest outlier among Washington cities

Among the 565 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Kirkland ranks #19 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Kirkland only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#55 of 565
90th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 599
87th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#19 of 565
97th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#405 of 598
31st percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#23 of 599
96th percentile in Washington

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Washington only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

93rdIncome percentile
30thSafety percentile

93rd percentile nationally for median household income · 30th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Kirkland's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Kirkland's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 43 Avg. percentile National median
Kirkland's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Kirkland's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,022,500 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Kirkland $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Kirkland, WA Kirkland, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kirkland, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Kirkland, WA median $143,533/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Kirkland, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Kirkland, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 64.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
91,614
Median Income
$143,533
Median Home Value
$1,022,500
Median Age
38.2
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Labor force participation
67.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
64.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2073.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
60.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2012.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
27
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
90,000 residents92,000 residents94,000 residents96,000 residents98,000 residents100,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 92,747 residents 97,410 residents ▲ +5.0%
Kirkland's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
442
housing units authorized
Single-Family
293
detached homes
Multifamily
149
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,383
2020 576
2021 596
2022 552
2023 480
2024 442

Permit volume decreased 68% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.3 minutes
Drive Alone
55.8%
Carpool
5.6%
Public Transit
4.6%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
29.1%
Other
2.1%

Based on 49,783 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Kirkland sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,501/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Bellingham
92,367 people
Yakima
96,810 people
Auburn
85,455 people
Kennewick
84,389 people
Federal Way
99,232 people
Pasco
78,446 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kirkland's 91,614 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Santa Monica, CA
91,535 people
Fort Myers, FL
91,730 people
Chino, CA
91,775 people
South Gate, CA
91,836 people
Norwalk, CT
91,375 people
Nashua, NH
91,131 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kirkland's $143,533 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brighton, UT
$143,563 median income
Earlysville, VA
$143,500 median income
Montrose, NY
$143,496 median income
Bayville, NY
$143,571 median income
Avalon, NJ
$143,482 median income
Maxville, MT
$143,462 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kirkland, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Kirkland, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.5% 17.8% 9.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.8% White 67.5% Black or African American 1.6% Asian 17.8% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 9.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Kirkland compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Kirkland (this city) 91,614 $143,533
Bellingham 92,367 $65,821
Yakima 96,810 $59,228
Auburn 85,455 $95,367
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kirkland, WA?

What is the population of Kirkland, WA? +

91,614 people live in Kirkland, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kirkland, WA? +

Median annual household income in Kirkland runs $143,533, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kirkland? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kirkland; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

Is Kirkland, WA safe? +

Kirkland has a total crime rate of 2073.0 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Kirkland, WA? +

Homes in Kirkland carry a median value of $1,022,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.