Neighborhood · Kirkland, WA

Meritage Ridge Eviction Risk: Lower

2 census tracts · pop 12,092 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 3.5/10 · range 2.9–4

Meritage Ridge is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Kirkland with 2 census tracts and a population of 12,092 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 3.5/10 (Lower tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 38% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 22% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $2,482/month sits 3% higher than the Kirkland citywide average ($2,401).

Risk score

3.5

Lower

2 tracts · population-weighted

Meritage Ridge vs Kirkland How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

38.4% +43%

Kirkland: 26.9%

Average gross rent

$2,482 +3%

Kirkland: $2,401

Average HH income

$128,153 -11%

Kirkland: $143,533

Poverty rate

6.9% +15%

Kirkland: 6.0%

Renter share

41.1% +5%

Kirkland: 39.2%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Meritage Ridge and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 2 tracts span score 2.9–4

Why Meritage Ridge scores 3.5

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 6.0–6.0 across tracts

6.0

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 7.6–7.6 across tracts

7.6

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 6.5–6.5 across tracts

6.5

Rent control risk

38% of income on rent · Range 6.5–6.5 across tracts

6.5

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 7.0–7.0 across tracts

7.0

Tenant organizing strength

41% renter households · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 7.5–7.5 across tracts

7.5

Economic stress

6.9% below poverty line · Range 1.2–2.2 across tracts

1.7

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 3.6–5.1 across tracts

4.3

Risk score comparison

Meritage Ridge vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

2 tracts in Meritage Ridge

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
53033021903	4	6,226	48%	$2,286
53033021904	2.9	5,866	28%	$2,689

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 57

Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 33%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 64%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 59%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 75%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab

Court-record eviction history in Meritage Ridge

Aggregated across 2 validated constituent tracts. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.

Historic baseline (2000–2018)

195Total filings (sum)
1.19%Avg annual filing rate
1.9%Peak year (2011)
1.51%Latest filed (2013)

Frequently asked

About Meritage Ridge

What is the eviction-risk score for Meritage Ridge?

Meritage Ridge scores 3.5/10 (Lower tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does Meritage Ridge compare to Kirkland overall?

Meritage Ridge scores 3.6 points lower than Kirkland overall (7.1/10). Renters spend 38% of income on rent vs 27% citywide. Average rent: $2,482 vs $2,401.

What is the average rent in Meritage Ridge?

Average gross rent in Meritage Ridge is $2,482/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Meritage Ridge residents are renters?

41% of Meritage Ridge households are renter-occupied (vs 39% in Kirkland). The neighborhood has 12,092 residents.

Is Meritage Ridge a high social-vulnerability area?

Meritage Ridge sits in the 57th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in Meritage Ridge have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in Meritage Ridge is census tract 53033021903 (score 4/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 2.9 to 4, a spread of 1.1 points.

How safe is Meritage Ridge for landlords?

Meritage Ridge carries a lower-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (3.5/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Kirkland as a whole (7.1/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Meritage Ridge?

Meritage Ridge has 12,355 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (60.2%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (22.3%), Hispanic / Latino (7.8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Meritage Ridge

3.3 Maple Glen 4 tracts · pop 17,720 2.5 North Creek 4 tracts · pop 23,661 2.9 Juanita 4 tracts · pop 18,802 3.2 Willows & Rose Hill 2 tracts · pop 13,347 1.9 English Hill 3 tracts · pop 14,414 2.7 Stonehedge Village 3 tracts · pop 16,752

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Kirkland

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Meritage Ridge.

3.2 Maple Glen 4 tracts · pop 17,720 3.2 Willows & Rose Hill 2 tracts · pop 13,347 3.1 Snyders Corner 5 tracts · pop 24,023 2.9 Juanita 4 tracts · pop 18,802 2.8 Matthews Beach 1 tracts · pop 2,590 2.4 Houghton 4 tracts · pop 15,789

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