Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Kansas City, KS

    Is Kansas City a good place to live?

    Watch Kansas City

    Kansas City ranks #16 of 16 Kansas cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (27/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $147,100
    +9.9% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,073
    per month
    Household income
    $59,183
    median
    Unemployment
    5.5%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Kansas City

    The median home value in Kansas City is $147,100 and median rent is $1,073 a month, against a median household income of $59,183. Homes cost about 2.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Kansas City crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Kansas the 2025 rate was 476 violent and 1,922 property crimes per 100,000 people — #6 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Kansas City, KS

    Kansas City has about 154,776 residents, 5.5% unemployment and 13% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Kansas City with

    Kansas City vs WichitaKansas City vs Overland ParkKansas City vs OlatheKansas City vs TopekaKansas City vs LawrenceKansas City vs ShawneeKansas City vs LenexaKansas City vs Manhattan

    More: Where to move in Kansas · Best counties in Kansas

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report