Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 15 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($133,800 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $356/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $34,328/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 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $34,328 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$147k less
$133,800 vs $280,700
Midland
Median Income
$34,328
$90,448 vs $56,120/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
65% lower
364.9 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 15 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 8 and Midland wins 15. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $280,700 median home), income ($56,120 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Midland, TX are about 641 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.