Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma 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
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($133,800 vs $186,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails Yuma by $3,192/yr
Yuma, AZ
Pros
60% less violent crime than Kansas City
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 40°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Households earn $3,192 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$53k less
$133,800 vs $186,500
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Yuma
Median Income
$3,192
$59,312 vs $56,120/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
60% lower
423.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Yuma
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 9 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $186,500 median home), income ($56,120 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Yuma, AZ are about 1,195 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.