Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Kansas City
Missouri
8
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
89% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $30,314 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Kansas City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($208,900 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1039/mo less ($1,131 vs $2,170)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $30,314/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$30,314
$95,570 vs $65,256/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
89% lower
171.0 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Kansas City
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$388k less
$208,900 vs $597,100
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $65,256 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 37.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 and Kansas City wins 8. 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 Boca Raton to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $208,900 median home), income ($95,570 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Kansas City, MO are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.