Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo 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
San Mateo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $1375k less ($133,800 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1927/mo less ($1,044 vs $2,971)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $93,032/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 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $93,032 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Kansas City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$1375k less
$133,800 vs $1,508,900
Kansas City
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$93,032
$149,152 vs $56,120/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
77% lower
243.2 vs 1047.2 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 9 and San Mateo 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($56,120 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and San Mateo, CA are about 1,492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.