Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,438
Springfield
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
11% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $12,670 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
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
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Rent averages $166/mo less ($878 vs $1,044)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kansas City by $12,670/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$12,670
$56,120 vs $43,450/yr
Kansas City
Violent Crime
11% lower
1047.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$13k less
$133,800 vs $146,400
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $146,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $146,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Springfield, MO are about 155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.