Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 12 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Households earn $17,835 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Kansas City
Homes cost $35k less ($174,100 vs $208,900)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,131)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Kansas City by $17,835/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$17,835
$65,256 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
72% lower
425.9 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$35k less
$174,100 vs $208,900
Waco
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 11 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($65,256 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Waco, TX are about 543 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.