The Town FilesKirkland, Washington
City in King County · population 92,175 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,115,400
- Household income
- $150,414
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.3
Kirkland is a city of 92,175 people in King County, Washington. The median home is worth $1,115,400, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Washington towns, more vibrant than 97% of Washington towns, more upscale than 97% of Washington towns.
How Kirkland ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kirkland is worth $1,115,400, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 7.4 times the median household income of $150,414, which is more affordable than 7% of Washington towns. Median rent is $2,401 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kirkland | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,115,400 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $2,401 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $150,414 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Kirkland
| People | Kirkland | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.3% | — |
| Work from home | 33.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Kirkland
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 37.2°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 25 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Kirkland since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 10, 2006.
Severe weather in King County since 1996
King County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 10, 2022 | Fire | FM-5455: Bolt Creek Fire |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in King County
King County had 1,449,785 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $132,279 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Kirkland itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Kirkland
27 public schools with 12,794 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Washington High School | 9-12 | 2,037 | 21.0 |
| Juanita High School | 9-12 | 1,752 | 19.9 |
| Finn Hill Middle School | 6-8 | 668 | 19.6 |
| Kirkland Middle School | 6-8 | 666 | 20.8 |
| Kamiakin Middle School | 6-8 | 608 | 19.6 |
| Mark Twain Elementary | K-5 | 594 | 15.6 |
| Peter Kirk Elementary | K-5 | 592 | 19.1 |
| Rose Hill Elementary | K-5 | 555 | 18.5 |
| Lakeview Elementary | K-5 | 527 | 17.0 |
| Alexander Graham Bell Elementary | PK-5 | 520 | 17.9 |
| Benjamin Franklin Elementary | K-5 | 464 | 16.0 |
| Henry David Thoreau Elementary | K-5 | 429 | 15.9 |
Towns near Kirkland
- Kenmore, WA4.2 mi · 23,914 people · home $920,800
- Redmond, WA4.3 mi · 73,256 people · home $1,167,800
- Clyde Hill, WA4.6 mi · 3,126 people · home $2,000,001
- Woodinville, WA5.0 mi · 13,069 people · home $1,100,100
- Medina, WA5.2 mi · 2,915 people · home $2,000,001
- Bothell, WA5.3 mi · 48,161 people · home $925,100
- Lake Forest Park, WA5.9 mi · 13,630 people · home $953,200
- Cottage Lake, WA6.9 mi · 22,857 people · home $1,230,700
Kirkland questions
Is Kirkland, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kirkland scores better for retirees than 53% of Washington towns and quieter than 11%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Kirkland?
The median owner-occupied home in Kirkland is valued at $1,115,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $150,414, so homes cost about 7.4 times income. Median rent is $2,401 a month.
What is the weather like in Kirkland?
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 37.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Kirkland get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Kirkland in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)