Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Kansas City leads 14 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,102 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,225)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
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
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Kansas City
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kansas City by $8,102/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$8,102
$65,256 vs $57,154/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
51% lower
752.4 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 14 and Portsmouth wins 9. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $213,300 median home), income ($65,256 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.