What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Kirkland, WA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, with an estimated population of 95,499. It anchors the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area. The population grew 0.9% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Kirkland is $1,274,801 as of 2026-04, down 5.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.5% annual growth (-6.8% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Kirkland average $2,575 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.4%). The composite momentum score is 56 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (-5.1% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Healthy 5-year run: +5.5% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
- The data is the data: Kirkland has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.
Things to know first
- Prices actively falling: down 5.1% in the last 12 months — buyer sentiment has flipped. Sellers competing on price.
- Expensive AND not growing: median home $1,274,801 with only -5.1% YoY. You're paying premium pricing for a flat trend.
More about Kirkland
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.