Three cities. The differences that actually matter.
Start with Sammamish, Kirkland, and Redmond: neighbors that play very different roles in the region. Change any city, then explore the questions behind the contrast.
Start here
The biggest differences
Only clear, usable differences appear here. Survey comparisons are omitted when their uncertainty intervals overlap.
Employment role
Redmond is an employment center; Sammamish is primarily residential.
The contrast helps explain commuting patterns, daytime activity, and how strongly each city depends on job centers elsewhere.
Sammamish0.11
Kirkland0.54
Redmond1.47
LODES 2023 · workplace jobs
Dataset
U.S. Census Bureau LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics
Period
2023
Geography
Jobs geocoded to workplaces within incorporated city boundaries
Definition
Jobs per resident divides workplace jobs by total population. It describes a city’s regional role, not its residents’ employment rate.
Method
LODES is administrative employment data and does not include every worker or job.
Redmond grew much faster than Sammamish in the latest five-year period.
Faster growth can intensify near-term questions about housing, schools, streets, and services; slow growth changes the planning problem rather than eliminating it.
Sammamish+0.8%
Kirkland+6.4%
Redmond+12.7%
OFM 2021–2026 · annual estimates
Dataset
Washington Office of Financial Management April 1 population estimates
Period
2021–2026
Geography
Incorporated city boundaries
Definition
Percent change in estimated resident population over the most recent five-year period in the repository.