Comparing Austin, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri reveals two vibrant cities with unique characteristics that make them attractive to both residents and tourists. Both cities offer a variety of work opportunities, cultural experiences, and lifestyles. However, they differ in aspects such as crime levels, education, taxes, and weather.
Distance between
Austin, TX and
Kansas City, MO : 632.7 miles
Austin's population is larger by 90%. Its population has grown by 307,615 people (46.9%) since 2000. The population of Kansas City has grown by 66,849 people (15.1%) during that time.
When comparing crime rates, both cities have their share of challenges. Austin's overall crime rate is slightly lower than the national average, while Kansas City's is significantly higher. Both cities have been actively working to improve safety. For those considering relocation, Austin is likely the safer choice, although crime does vary by neighborhood. This is also a consideration for tourists, who are encouraged to be mindful of their surroundings in both cities.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 1,398 registered sex offenders living in Austin and 1,820 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Austin is 678 to 1; the ratio in Kansas City is 264 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a lot smaller in Austin than in Kansas City.
Cost of Living
Austin's cost of living is slightly higher than the national average, mainly due to housing costs. Kansas City, on the other hand, offers a lower cost of living, making it an attractive option for relocation for those on a budget. Though, tourists should keep in mind that certain activities or attractions may be more expensive in Austin.
Income Tax
Texas, including Austin, does not have a state income tax, offering potential savings for residents. Missouri, on the other hand, does impose a state income tax on its residents, including those in Kansas City.
Property Tax
Austin's property tax rates are considerably higher than Kansas City's because Texas relies heavily on property tax revenue due to the absence of state income tax. Therefore, homeownership can be less expensive in Kansas City if one considers the property tax impacts.
Sales Tax
Both cities have sales tax rates above the national average, but Austin's is slightly higher. Kansas City's lower sales tax may make everyday purchases a bit more affordable for residents and visitors alike.
Income
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Estimated median household income
$79,542
$63,396
Estimated per capita income
$53,937
$36,456
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
96.4
87.3
If you make $50,000 in Kansas City, you will have to make $55,212 in Austin to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Austin's geographical landscape is characterized by hill country, rivers, and lakes, offering plenty of outdoor activities. Kansas City, located on the Missouri River, also provides many outdoor recreational opportunities but lacks the hillier terrains of Austin.
Both Austin and Kansas City have robust educational opportunities. Austin is home to the University of Texas, a nationally regarded institution with strong research programs, while Kansas City houses several universities and colleges including the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The two cities offer quality education from pre-K through higher education.
Austin's economy is thriving, particularly in tech, with companies like Dell, IBM, and Apple having a significant presence. Kansas City's economy is diverse with sectors like health care, finance, and information technology, contributing significantly to job growth. Both cities offer ample job opportunities, though Austin's tech-centered economy might appeal more to those in that industry.
Biggest Employers
Austin's biggest employers include Dell Technologies, the State of Texas, and the University of Texas at Austin. In Kansas City, some of the largest employers are the federal government, the University of Kansas Hospital, and Sprint Corporation. Both cities offer a mix of public and private sector opportunities.
In Austin (Travis County), 60.2% voted for Democrats and 36.2% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Kansas City (Jackson County), 58.9% voted for Democrats and 39.3% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Austin
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
2020
71.7%
60.1%
26.5%
38.1%
1.8%
1.8%
2016
65.8%
55.5%
27.2%
38.1%
7.0%
6.4%
2012
60.2%
58.9%
36.2%
39.3%
3.6%
1.7%
2008
63.8%
62.1%
34.4%
36.8%
1.8%
1.1%
2004
56.1%
58.2%
42.1%
41.4%
1.8%
0.4%
2000
41.7%
59.0%
47.0%
38.4%
11.3%
2.5%
1996
52.4%
56.2%
40.0%
34.3%
7.7%
9.5%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Austin
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
CATHOLIC CHURCH
17.3%
10.3%
4.5%
6.4%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
8.0%
9.5%
22.8%
13.7%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.4%
0.8%
2.8%
1.7%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
1.2%
0.4%
0.7%
1.1%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
1.0%
0.2%
2.5%
1.0%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.9%
1.4%
2.1%
1.8%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.2%
0.5%
1.0%
1.0%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.1%
0.3%
0.1%
1.4%
SALVATION ARMY
0.0%
0.4%
0.1%
0.6%
Weather
While Austin boasts hot summers with mild winters and minimal rainfall, Kansas City experiences a more extreme range of temperatures, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. For those who prefer a consistent warm climate, Austin is the better option. Tourists, however, may enjoy the seasonal variation Kansas City offers depending on the time of year they visit.
Weather and climate
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Temperature - Average
68.5°F
56.2°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
75.2%
76.3%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
40%
30.1%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
89%
86%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
49%
56%
Precipitation - Yearly average
33.7 in
36.3 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
1.4 in
38 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
19.3%
20.1%
Sunshine amount - Average
63.3%
67.3%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
22%
25.9%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
72%
74%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
50%
48%
Wind speed - Average
7.2 mph
11.2 mph
Average climate in Austin, Texas
Average climate in Kansas City, Missouri
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Austin
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
Austin
Kansas City
2018
76
89
N/A
0.29
4.9
11.1
26.7
29.6
24.5
N/A
8.7
7.4
0.2
0.9
2017
76
88
N/A
0.29
4.6
11.6
29.7
30.4
26.7
N/A
8.3
10.0
0.3
1.4
2016
71
85
N/A
0.30
4.2
12.0
29.5
28.9
24.9
N/A
8.2
9.0
0.2
1.5
2015
78
90
N/A
0.30
4.4
12.9
28.9
28.9
33.6
N/A
8.6
8.3
0.3
4.6
2014
74
90
N/A
0.28
5.2
13.0
28.3
28.6
28.5
N/A
8.7
9.3
0.5
5.0
2013
78
88
0.09
0.41
5.5
13.2
29.5
29.3
30.8
N/A
8.6
10.3
0.5
5.6
2012
86
105
0.13
0.52
5.5
14.2
30.1
31.9
N/A
N/A
8.6
10.3
N/A
6.4
2011
83
108
0.11
0.45
2.6
15.0
33.0
29.9
N/A
N/A
9.1
10.9
N/A
4.8
2010
77
97
0.05
0.40
3.2
15.0
29.4
27.4
N/A
N/A
8.8
11.9
N/A
5.4
2009
76
96
0.05
0.29
2.6
14.8
29.7
28.3
N/A
N/A
9.0
9.6
N/A
6.1
2008
81
89
0.12
0.40
3.2
17.0
30.7
25.7
N/A
N/A
9.7
11.5
N/A
6.0
2007
82
104
0.12
0.42
3.1
18.4
27.1
29.1
N/A
N/A
9.8
13.1
N/A
4.2
2006
89
104
0.14
0.36
3.8
18.5
31.3
29.2
N/A
N/A
10.0
12.4
0.2
5.1
2005
92
105
0.15
0.55
4.4
18.3
29.0
28.4
N/A
N/A
10.7
N/A
0.2
4.5
2004
74
83
0.16
0.45
3.3
11.6
26.8
26.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.0
2003
85
99
0.26
0.41
4.2
10.9
28.9
28.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.1
3.0
2002
83
100
0.33
0.40
3.9
8.9
27.2
27.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.5
2001
83
88
0.31
0.52
4.2
7.9
25.5
27.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.2
2000
86
102
0.28
0.75
4.7
8.8
27.8
29.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.2
Natural disasters
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
137.9%
200.4%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
80.4%
598.9%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
29%
24%
Transportation
Austin offers public transit options such as buses and light rail, and it has invested in bike-friendly infrastructure, but traffic can be a challenge. Kansas City also has buses and a streetcar system, but suffers from some traffic issues during peak times.
Transport
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
911
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
21
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Bicycle
0.8%
0.4%
Bus
1.5%
1.5%
Carpooled
7.9%
8.7%
Car alone
85.9%
86.8%
Motorcycle
0.3%
0.1%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.2%
Walked
2%
1.3%
Average travel time to work
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Average
29.9 min
25.5 min
Other means
22.7 min
21.7 min
Public transportation
37.9 min
38.9 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Average
1.1
1.1
Drove alone
91.2%
89.4%
In 2 person carpool
6.3%
8%
In 3 person carpool
1.7%
2.1%
In 4 person carpool
0.6%
0.3%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.1%
0.2%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate in Austin is generally more pricey with a high demand for housing, while Kansas City offers more affordable options with a larger supply of homes. This could make Kansas City a favorable option for new residents looking for lower housing costs.
Neighborhoods
Austin offers a mix of suburban and urban neighborhoods, catering to a wide range of tastes, whereas Kansas City is known for its distinct, culturally rich neighborhoods like Country Club Plaza and Westport. Both cities provide a variety of living experiences for residents and unique areas for tourists to explore.
Houses and residents
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Houses
469,156
243,950
Average household size (people)
2.4
2.3
Median year apartment built
1997
1975
Median year house/condo built
1988
1967
Length of stay in the house since moving in
12.1 years
12 years
Houses occupied
449,399 (95.8%)
219,020 (89.8%)
Houses occupied by owners
196,458 (43.7%)
118,384 (54.1%)
Houses occupied by renters
252,941 (56.3%)
100,636 (45.9%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,286
$933.71
Median monthly housing costs
$1,521
$1,092
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$549,769
$71,644
Estimated median house or condo value
$482,900
$213,400
Median numbers of rooms
4.4
5.5
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.4
4.3
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6
6.6
Median house price - detached houses
$595,996
$250,072
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$393,984
$212,485
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$262,826
$147,015
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$576,111
$274,597
Median house price - mobile homes
$56,102
$19,650
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$459,657
$203,232
Median house price - All housing units
$571,154
$247,285
Median house age
28
52
Renting percentage
54.9%
43.8%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,865.3
778
House value disparities
28.4%
36%
Household income disparities
44.8%
43.9%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$141,177
$96,255
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$86,430
$64,961
Housing units without a mortgage
1,799 (1.3%)
1,566 (2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
6,421 (4.8%)
5,650 (7.2%)
Housing units with a mortgage
132,628 (98.7%)
77,422 (98%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
206 (0.2%)
403 (0.5%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
8,515 (6.3%)
6,848 (8.7%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
9
9
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
0.9%
3.8%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.6%
2.2%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Austin
Kansas City
One, detached
43.1%
60.7%
One, attached
5.2%
3.9%
Two
2.4%
3.1%
3 or 4
4.1%
4.4%
5 to 9
7.2%
5.8%
10 to 19
11.0%
6.2%
20 to 49
8.9%
5.8%
50 or more
17.2%
9.3%
Mobile homes
1.0%
0.6%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.0%
0.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
38,777
13,035
State government workers
46,229
6,835
Unpaid family workers
102
197
Industries and Occupations
In Austin, the main industries are technology, education, and government. Conversely, Kansas City boasts a variety of industries including health care, manufacturing, finance and insurance, and information technology. Newcomers to either city will find opportunities in various fields depending on their qualifications and preferences.
Both cities have robust healthcare systems. Austin's health care industry is one of the nation's top-performing, with state-of-the-art facilities and research centers. Kansas City also provides quality health care with numerous hospitals and specialty care facilities available.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Austin
Kansas City
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Austin has made substantial efforts to improve public transportation, build bike lanes, and reduce traffic congestion, providing easy commuting options within the city. Kansas City, while also investing in infrastructure, still faces some challenges with traffic, particularly during peak times.
Infrastructure
Type
Austin
Kansas City
Hospitals
65
30
TV stations
20
14
Arenas or stadiums
2
2
Bank branches located here
264
140
Bank institutions located here
43
41
Main business address for public companies
44
27
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
46
0
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Austin
Kansas City
1999
4,733
1,565
2000
2,950
1,758
2001
2,038
1,494
2002
1,772
1,380
2003
2,213
1,975
2004
2,458
3,011
2005
3,121
3,470
2006
3,367
3,499
2007
2,560
2,228
2008
1,747
742
2009
1,067
447
Culture and Food
Both cities have rich cultural scenes. Austin, known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," boasts multiple music festivals and a vibrant art scene. Its food scene is dominated by Tex-Mex and BBQ. Kansas City is famous for its jazz heritage and distinctive BBQ style, also providing a diverse culinary scene influenced by a wide range of cultures.
Sports Teams
Austin has fewer professional sports teams than Kansas City. The latter is home to the Chiefs (NFL) and Royals (MLB), while Austin hosts a professional soccer team, Austin FC. However, Austin's college sports scene is extensive, with the Texas Longhorns garnering a lot of support.
Austin, TX
Kansas City, MO
