Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Rochester
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Households earn $11,964 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
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
Rochester, NY
Pros
44% less violent crime than Kansas City
Homes cost $22k less ($111,400 vs $133,800)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kansas City by $11,964/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$11,964
$56,120 vs $44,156/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
44% lower
582.3 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$22k less
$111,400 vs $133,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $111,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Rochester, NY are about 932 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.