Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
56% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $16,606 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($133,800 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,313)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $16,606/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$16,606
$72,726 vs $56,120/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
56% lower
458.4 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 90.2°F
Kansas City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$117k less
$133,800 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 155,438 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $133,800 median home), income ($72,726 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Kansas City, KS are about 462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.