Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Kansas City leads 12 of 22 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,438
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($133,800 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $348/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,392)
7% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $15,208/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $15,208 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Violent Crime
7% lower
1047.2 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$218k less
$133,800 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$15,208
$71,328 vs $56,120/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 12 of 22 categories. Kansas City wins 12 and Nashville-Davidson 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $351,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.