Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,438
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
58% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.0%)
Households earn $8,030 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
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
Memphis, TN
Pros
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kansas City by $8,030/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$8,030
$56,120 vs $48,090/yr
Kansas City
Violent Crime
58% lower
1047.2 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Kansas City
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $139,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,050 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ 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 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kansas City wins 11 and Memphis wins 11. 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $139,600 median home), income ($56,120 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Memphis, TN are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.