Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 16 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Reno
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($133,800 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $316/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,360)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Reno by $16,953/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
49% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $16,953 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$328k less
$133,800 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$16,953
$73,073 vs $56,120/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
49% lower
529.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 16 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 7 and Reno wins 16. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $462,100 median home), income ($56,120 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Reno, NV are about 1,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.