City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Kansas City split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 193 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,238 in Kansas City.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Kansas City makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Jacksonville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Jacksonville has rougher pockets and Kansas City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Kansas City are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $227 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $706 (1%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 343 in Kansas City, up 193 points (129%).
The move
Kansas City and Jacksonville are 950 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $227 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $706 (1%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 150 in Jacksonville, down 193 points (56%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 15% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Kansas City is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,724, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Kansas City still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Jacksonville.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 1% higher than Kansas City
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Kansas City
$69,166
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Jacksonville (about $706 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 56% lower than Kansas City
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% lower in Jacksonville. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Jacksonville is the easier city. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
23% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 23% more comfortable than Kansas City
Jacksonville
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jacksonville scores 23% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Kansas City if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($69,872), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Kansas City (150 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Kansas City
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Jacksonville scores 48/100 versus 23/100 in Kansas City. Rent is $1,465/month in Jacksonville and $1,238/month in Kansas City, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Jacksonville vs 23/100 in Kansas City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is ahead on safety (48/100 vs 23/100); Kansas City is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,238/month rent plus $69,166 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Jacksonville when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Kansas City, plus other cities in FL and MO.
