Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Kansas City leads 12 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $38k less ($133,800 vs $171,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $115/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,159)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $8,578/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, TX
Pros
46% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $8,578 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.0%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$38k less
$133,800 vs $171,600
Kansas City
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$8,578
$64,698 vs $56,120/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
46% lower
566.1 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $171,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 12 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $171,600 median home), income ($56,120 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Pasadena, TX are about 655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.