Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond 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
Richmond
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($133,800 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,227)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
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
Median income trails Richmond by $3,486/yr
Richmond, VA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Households earn $3,486 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$175k less
$133,800 vs $308,300
Richmond
Median Income
$3,486
$59,606 vs $56,120/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
68% lower
336.9 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 9 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $308,300 median home), income ($56,120 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Richmond, VA are about 941 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.