Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($133,800 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $681/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,725)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $38,242/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
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $38,242 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/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 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$246k less
$133,800 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$38,242
$94,362 vs $56,120/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
86% lower
146.7 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 9 and Richardson wins 14. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($56,120 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Richardson, TX are about 439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.