Kansas City vs Lexington
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $242,900 in Kansas City and $293,500 in Lexington.
- Kansas City has more scorching days: 47 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 25.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 521,220 | 329,751 |
| Growth since 2020 | +2.6% | +2.2% |
| People per square mile | 1,657 | 1,162 |
| Median age | 35.8 | 35.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38% | 48% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $69,166 | $69,479 |
| Median home value | $242,900 | $293,500 |
| Home value to income | 3.5× | 4.2× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,238 | $1,164 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 92.5 | 92.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 86.6 | 77.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $69,400 | $69,700 |
| Homeowners | 55% | 54% |
| Top state income tax | 4.7% | 3.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.44% | 6% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 21.7 | 20.9 |
| Work from home | 17% | 12% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 14.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 40° / 22° | 42° / 25° |
| July high / low | 90° / 72° | 87° / 67° |
| Precipitation per year | 38 in | 50 in |
| Snowfall per year | 11 in | 15 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 47 | 25 |
| Nights below freezing | 93 | 90 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.5 | 92.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 49% | 73% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.2% | +6.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +42.4% | +52.5% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Kansas City: April and September to October. Lexington: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Kansas City weather by month and Lexington weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $69,400 in Kansas City and $69,700 in Lexington. Moving from Kansas City to Lexington, you would need about $75,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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