Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($133,800 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,235)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 30°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $36,338/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
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
Livonia, MI
Pros
78% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $36,338 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$115k less
$133,800 vs $249,000
Kansas City
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 82.9°F
Livonia
Median Income
$36,338
$92,458 vs $56,120/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
78% lower
228.1 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $249,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 13.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 33.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 36.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Livonia wins 13. 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 Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $249,000 median home), income ($56,120 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Livonia, MI are about 636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.