City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,238 in Kansas City.
Safety is where Kansas City and Toledo split most clearly. Toledo scores 122 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 $934 in Toledo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo costs less and Kansas City pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Kansas City and Toledo are 606 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $934 a month in Toledo, down $304 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $62,224 in Toledo, down $6,942 (10%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 221 in Toledo, down 122 points (36%).
The move
Toledo and Kansas City are 606 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, up $304 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $6,942 (11%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 343 in Kansas City, up 122 points (55%).
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Kansas City and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Toledo rent is 25% cheaper than Kansas City
Kansas City
$1,238/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,238 in Kansas City, so Toledo is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $304/month back in your pocket ($3,648/year). Over five years that's $18,240 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Kansas City, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Kansas City's median income is 11% higher than Toledo
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Kansas City (about $6,942 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Kansas City is the stronger labor market on paper. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 36% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
31% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 31% more comfortable than Toledo
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Kansas City scores 31% 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 Toledo 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 11% higher ($69,166), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 58°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Kansas City (221 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
Kansas City carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 36/100 in Toledo). That 13-point spread matters more than the $304 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Kansas City still pays more locally ($69,166 median income vs $62,224), which can offset the lease if your field pays Kansas City rates.
Weather averages land near 58°F in Kansas City and 51°F in Toledo.
If safety drives your move, Toledo is the stronger match (36/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Kansas City, treat $1,238/month rent and $69,166 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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