Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Kansas City leads 15 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Households earn $15,523 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($157,800 vs $208,900)
8% less violent crime than Kansas City
Rent averages $149/mo less ($982 vs $1,131)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kansas City by $15,523/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$15,523
$65,256 vs $49,733/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Violent Crime
8% lower
1430.9 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$51k less
$157,800 vs $208,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 277⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 377⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 15 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 15 and Milwaukee wins 8. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $157,800 median home), income ($65,256 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Milwaukee, WI are about 438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.