Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Ann Arbor leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
71% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $22,426 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($133,800 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,472)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $22,426/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$22,426
$78,546 vs $56,120/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
71% lower
302.5 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$283k less
$133,800 vs $416,500
Kansas City
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ann Arbor leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 12 and Kansas City wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Ann Arbor to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $133,800 median home), income ($78,546 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Kansas City, KS are about 616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.