Quality-i70 · Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5Municipal Office Building, Kansas City, Kansas (44651665835) · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States / CC BY 2.0Cathedral of Saint Peter, Kansas City, Kansas · Mwkruse / CC BY-SA 4.0Kaw-point-aerial with arrow · The original uploader was Americasroof at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 3.0
Kansas City is a mid-sized city of 155,438 in Kansas, with a median household income of $56,120
and a 6.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Kansas City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kansas City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Kansas City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.3
Kansas City's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Kansas City costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Kansas City, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$133,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,044
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,120
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Kansas City's violent crime rate is 1047.2 per 100,000 residents
— 176% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1047.2 /100k
Property Crime
3606.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Kansas City is served primarily by Kansas City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Kansas City, KS
National Avg
School District
Kansas City
—
Elementary Schools
28
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Kansas City sees average highs of 39.9°F in January
and 90.2°F in July,
with 38.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 11.0 inches of snow per year.
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Kansas City roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $133,800 and median rent is $1,044/month.
Kansas City's violent crime rate is 1047.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3606.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Kansas City are operated by Kansas City.
The district has 28 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kansas City, KS has a population of 155,438, a median household income of $56,120, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kansas City averages 39.9°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.1 inches
with about 11.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kansas City, KS is covered by 12 ZIP codes: 66109, 66106, 66104, 66111, 66102, 66112, 66103, 66115, 66101, 66105, 66118, 66160.
The population of Kansas City, Kansas is 155,438 with a median age of 34.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kansas City: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $133,800, median household income $56,120, crime index 234 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kansas City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
