Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Kansas City
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
82% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $40,758 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Kansas City
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($208,900 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $575/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,706)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $40,758/yr
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$40,758
$106,014 vs $65,256/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
82% lower
285.6 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Kansas City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$344k less
$208,900 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $65,256 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 37.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Kansas City wins 9. 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 Arvada to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $208,900 median home), income ($106,014 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Kansas City, MO are about 567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.