Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312
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, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
Households earn $5,944 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
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
Yuma, AZ
Pros
73% less violent crime than Kansas City
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 40°F
Homes cost $22k less ($186,500 vs $208,900)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,131)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Kansas City by $5,944/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$5,944
$65,256 vs $59,312/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Yuma
Violent Crime
73% lower
423.6 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$22k less
$186,500 vs $208,900
Yuma
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | 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 | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 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 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $186,500 median home), income ($65,256 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Yuma, AZ are about 1,205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.