Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 High Point leads 14 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120
Kansas City
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
71% less violent crime than Kansas City
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,131)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Kansas City by $6,674/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.8%)
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $6,674 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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
High Point
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Violent Crime
71% lower
454.8 vs 1547.1 per 100k
High Point
Median Home Value
$12k less
$196,500 vs $208,900
Kansas City
Median Income
$6,674
$65,256 vs $58,582/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $208,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,131 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $65,256 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 37.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
High Point is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 14 of 23 categories. High Point 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 High Point to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $208,900 median home), income ($58,582 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Kansas City, MO are about 825 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.