Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Kansas City leads 15 of 22 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
505,958
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Kansas City by $6,907/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.8%)
Kansas City, MO
Pros
4% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,907 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,235)
Cons
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$6,907
$65,256 vs $58,349/yr
Kansas City
Violent Crime
4% lower
1547.1 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Kansas City
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $208,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $65,256 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 407⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 37.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 505,958 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 15 of 22 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Kansas City wins 15. 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 Baltimore to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $208,900 median home), income ($58,349 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Kansas City, MO are about 959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.