Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Kansas City leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $345k less ($133,800 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $698/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,742)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.0%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $30,846/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $30,846 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$345k less
$133,800 vs $478,400
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$30,846
$86,966 vs $56,120/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
53% lower
489.7 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 13 and Kent 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 Kansas City to Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $478,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Kent, WA are about 1,486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.