City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Kansas City, KS

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Kansas City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

154,776
Residents
$59,183
Median income
$147,100
Median home
$1,358
Median rent (state)

Kansas City - the verdict

Nationally, Kansas City sits in the 34th percentile for household income and the 5th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

34th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
51st
percentile, median rent
5th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Kansas City, KS

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 154,776 residents in Kansas City, a mid-sized U.S. city within Kansas. Median household income here is $59,183 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.1%. Home values in Kansas City run a median of $147,100, and the median resident age is 34.0 years. Educational attainment runs 20.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 61.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 318 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 74% from five years earlier. Kansas City's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 4653.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Kansas scores 90.1 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,358 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kansas's average monthly utility costs around $217 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 89.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

154,776 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$59,183 /yr

Poverty 14.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Kansas City compare to other US cities?

Here's how Kansas City stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 34% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 51% pricier than other cities
Safety 5% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Kansas, Kansas City ranks #106 of 109 Kansas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Kansas City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Kansas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

34thIncome percentile
5thSafety percentile

34th percentile nationally for median household income · 5th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Kansas City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Kansas City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Kansas City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Kansas City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$147,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Kansas City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Kansas City, KS Kansas City, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kansas City, KS-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Kansas City, KS median $59,183/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Kansas City, KS's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Kansas City, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
154,776
Median Income
$59,183
Median Home Value
$147,100
Median Age
34.0
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Labor force participation
61.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4653.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1047.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3606.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
58
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
152,000 residents154,000 residents156,000 residents158,000 residents160,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 156,306 residents 157,805 residents ▲ +1.0%
Kansas City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
318
housing units authorized
Single-Family
106
detached homes
Multifamily
212
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 183
2020 201
2021 167
2022 394
2023 300
2024 318

Permit volume increased 74% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.5%
Carpool
12.6%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
8.5%
Other
1.0%

Based on 70,816 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$217
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Kansas City sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,358/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Olathe
143,720 people
Topeka
126,103 people
Overland Park
197,199 people
Lawrence
95,459 people
Shawnee
68,175 people
Lenexa
57,986 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kansas City's 154,776 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Springfield, MA
154,751 people
Sunnyvale, CA
153,455 people
Killeen, TX
156,144 people
Lakewood, CO
156,309 people
Macon-Bibb County, GA
156,543 people
Hollywood, FL
152,935 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kansas City's $59,183 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Vernal, UT
$59,178 median income
Oak Grove, AL
$59,191 median income
South Whitley, IN
$59,191 median income
Rocky Boy's Agency, MT
$59,175 median income
Buck Run, PA
$59,196 median income
Dooms, VA
$59,196 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kansas City, KS Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Kansas City, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 44.0% 20.4% 15.5% 13.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 35.0% White 44.0% Black or African American 20.4% Asian 5.3% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 15.5% Two or more races 13.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Kansas City compares to nearby Kansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Kansas City (this city) 154,776 $59,183
Olathe 143,720 $112,232
Topeka 126,103 $55,902
Overland Park 197,199 $103,838
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kansas City, KS?

What is the population of Kansas City, KS? +

Kansas City, KS counts 154,776 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kansas City, KS? +

Kansas City households earn a median of $59,183 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kansas City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kansas City; the closest available measure is the Kansas state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kansas vary by metro area.

Is Kansas City, KS safe? +

Kansas City has a total crime rate of 4653.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Kansas City, KS? +

Kansas City's median home value sits at $147,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.