Denver, CO vs Kansas City, MO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | DenverDenver, CO | Kansas CityKansas City, MO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | High Autonomy | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
$113,986 is the comfortable income for a single person in Denver, CO, compared with $44,102 in Kansas City, MO, based on 2024 data. The cost of living index (100 = U.S. average) stands at 175 for Denver and 93 for Kansas City, placing Denver in the 86th percentile and Kansas City in the 43rd percentile. Median home values differ sharply at $586,700 versus $227,000, while the comfortable income for a family of 4 is $167,559 in Denver and $64,830 in Kansas City.
2023 Census figures show Denver's population density at 4,663 people per square mile (90th percentile) versus Kansas City's 1,616 (50th percentile). Job growth over the past year was -0.6% in Denver and +1.0% in Kansas City, a 1.6-point difference. Summer dew point averages 48°F in Denver and 66°F in Kansas City, with Denver in the 9th percentile and Kansas City in the 72nd percentile. The poverty rate is 11.2% in Denver and 14.6% in Kansas City, a 3.4-point gap. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 875 in Denver and 1,369 in Kansas City, with both in the 97th and 99th percentiles respectively.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Denver, CO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 17586th pctl | 9343rd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Denver, CO 175; Kansas City, MO 93; Denver is 88% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $586,70087th pctl | $227,00037th pctl | Median home value: Denver, CO $586,700; Kansas City, MO $227,000; Denver is 2.6 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,77083rd pctl | $1,18649th pctl | Median rent: Denver, CO $1,770; Kansas City, MO $1,186; Denver is 49% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,68171st pctl | $67,44942nd pctl | Median household income: Denver, CO $91,681; Kansas City, MO $67,449; Denver is 36% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $113,98689th pctl | $44,10236th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Denver, CO $113,986; Kansas City, MO $44,102; Denver is 2.6 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $167,55989th pctl | $64,83036th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Denver, CO $167,559; Kansas City, MO $64,830; Denver is 2.6 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Denver, CO C-; Kansas City, MO A+; Kansas City is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Kansas City needs about
$39,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 175 vs 93). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Denver, CO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.3%78th pctl | 3.9%62nd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.6%11th pctl | +1.0%46th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Denver, CO -0.6%; Kansas City, MO +1.0%; Kansas City is 1.6 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $61,20288th pctl | $40,11257th pctl | Per-capita income: Denver, CO $61,202; Kansas City, MO $40,112; Denver is 53% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.2%48th pctl | 14.6%64th pctl | Poverty rate: Denver, CO 11.2%; Kansas City, MO 14.6%; Kansas City is 3.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.4 min64th pctl | 21.9 min39th pctl | Average commute: Denver, CO 25.4 min; Kansas City, MO 21.9 min; Denver is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 24.4%90th pctl | 14.8%69th pctl | Work from home: Denver, CO 24.4%; Kansas City, MO 14.8%; Denver is 9.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | Economic opportunity: Denver, CO B-; Kansas City, MO C-; Denver is graded higher. |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Denver, CO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 87597th pctl | 1,36999th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Denver, CO 875; Kansas City, MO 1,369; Kansas City is 56% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 4,12698th pctl | 3,96397th pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Denver, CO B+; Kansas City, MO D; Denver is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Denver, CO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Humid | Climate comfort: Denver, CO A+; Kansas City, MO C+; Denver is graded higher. |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Denver, CO A-; Kansas City, MO A+; Kansas City is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Prime | Homesteading potential: Denver, CO B-; Kansas City, MO A+; Kansas City is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Denver, CO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | CState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Denver, CO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi0th pctl | 2 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Denver, CO 0 mi; Kansas City, MO 2 mi; Kansas City is higher (Denver: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Denver, CO F; Kansas City, MO D; Kansas City is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 556 mi77th pctl | 653 mi87th pctl | Distance to international border: Denver, CO 556 mi; Kansas City, MO 653 mi; Kansas City is 17% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 701 mi83rd pctl | 639 mi79th pctl | Distance to coastline: Denver, CO 701 mi; Kansas City, MO 639 mi; Denver is 10% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Denver, CO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 713,73499th pctl | 508,23399th pctl | Population: Denver, CO 713,734; Kansas City, MO 508,233; Denver is 40% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,66390th pctl | 1,61650th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Denver, CO 4,663; Kansas City, MO 1,616; Denver is 2.9 times higher. |
| Median age | 35.227th pctl | 35.731st pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.6%85th pctl | 37.8%63rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Denver, CO 55.6%; Kansas City, MO 37.8%; Denver is 17.8 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.112th pctl | 2.328th pctl | Average household size: Denver, CO 2.1; Kansas City, MO 2.3; Kansas City is 8% larger. |
More about Denver's residents · Kansas City's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | DenverDenver, CO | Kansas CityKansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+29 | D+12 |
| 2024 presidential | D +56.0 pts | D +24.0 pts |
Full politics data: Denver · Kansas City
Moving between Denver and Kansas City
- Median rent: $1,770 in Denver, $1,186 in Kansas City
- Median home value: $586,700 in Denver, $227,000 in Kansas City
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 175 in Denver, 93 in Kansas City
- Median household income: $91,681 in Denver, $67,449 in Kansas City
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $167,559 in Denver, $64,830 in Kansas City
- Unemployment: 4.3% in Denver, 3.9% in Kansas City
- Average commute: 25.4 min in Denver, 21.9 min in Kansas City
- Violent crime per 100k: 875 in Denver, 1,369 in Kansas City
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More places like Denver and Kansas City
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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