Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Washington
District of Columbia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $571k less ($133,800 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,817)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $45,602/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $45,602 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% less violent crime than Kansas City
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$571k less
$133,800 vs $705,000
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$45,602
$101,722 vs $56,120/yr
Washington
Violent Crime
12% lower
925.9 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 244⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($56,120 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Washington, DC are about 950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.