Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Long Beach 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
Long Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $576k less ($133,800 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $654/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,698)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $22,875/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
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,875 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Kansas City
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$576k less
$133,800 vs $709,700
Kansas City
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$22,875
$78,995 vs $56,120/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
35% lower
676.4 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Long Beach 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $709,700 median home), income ($56,120 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Long Beach, CA are about 1,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.