Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 13 of 22 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
Sparks
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($133,800 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $482/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,526)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $26,818/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
Sparks, NV
Pros
62% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $26,818 more per year on average
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$290k less
$133,800 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$26,818
$82,938 vs $56,120/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
62% lower
394.4 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 13 of 22 categories. Kansas City wins 9 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $423,500 median home), income ($56,120 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Sparks, NV are about 1,330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.