City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Safety is where Kansas City and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 211 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,470 in Arlington.
Arlington 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 Arlington is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Kansas City at $1,238 average has pockets that run $1,038 and others at $1,638: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Kansas City and Arlington are 462 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $232 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $75,171 in Arlington, up $6,005 (9%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 132 in Arlington, down 211 points (62%).
The move
Arlington and Kansas City are 462 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $232 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $6,005 (8%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 343 in Kansas City, up 211 points (160%).
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Kansas City and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 16% cheaper than Arlington
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,470 in Arlington, so Kansas City is 16% 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 $2,784, 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 Arlington.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Arlington's median income is 9% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City
$69,166
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Arlington (about $6,005 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
62% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 62% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Arlington. 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, Arlington 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
25% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 25% more comfortable than Kansas City
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington scores 25% 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
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 16% 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.
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 9% higher ($75,171), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Kansas City (132 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Arlington: Arlington scores 52/100 versus 23/100 in Kansas City, with typical rent at $1,470 versus $1,238. I would vet the exact ZIP in Kansas City before trading 29 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (52/100 in Arlington vs 23/100 in Kansas City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,470 in Arlington.
Arlington clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Kansas City deserves a serious look only when you already know the Kansas City block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Kansas City and Arlington, plus other cities in MO and TX.
