Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories
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
New Orleans
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($133,800 vs $281,500)
27% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.0%)
Rent averages $118/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,162)
Households earn $5,004 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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Kansas City
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.0%)
Median income trails Kansas City by $5,004/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$5,004
$56,120 vs $51,116/yr
Kansas City
Violent Crime
27% lower
1047.2 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$148k less
$133,800 vs $281,500
Kansas City
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 11 and New Orleans wins 12. 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 New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $281,500 median home), income ($56,120 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and New Orleans, LA are about 683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.