Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Irving leads 13 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962
Kansas City
Missouri
10
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
82% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $11,430 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,423)
Homes cost $51k less ($208,900 vs $259,500)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irving by $11,430/yr
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$11,430
$76,686 vs $65,256/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
82% lower
275.4 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°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
$51k less
$208,900 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $65,256 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 12.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 37.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving'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, Irving leads 13 of 23 categories. Irving wins 13 and Kansas City wins 10. 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 Irving to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $208,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Kansas City, MO are about 453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.