Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Portland
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($133,800 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $486/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,530)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $29,756/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
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $29,756 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$389k less
$133,800 vs $523,100
Kansas City
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$29,756
$85,876 vs $56,120/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
31% lower
720.1 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 219⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Portland wins 13. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($56,120 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Portland, OR are about 1,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.