Kansas City vs Springfield: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Kansas City, KS and Springfield, MA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricKansas City, KSSpringfield, MA
Population155,438155,305
Median household income$56,120$47,677
Median home value$133,800$198,500
Median rent (/mo)$1,044$1,047

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Kansas City, KS and Springfield, MA comes down to what you value most. Kansas City has the lower median home value, and Kansas City has the lower median rent.

Kansas City has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Springfield?
By median home value, Kansas City is the cheaper of the two ($133,800 vs $198,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Kansas City or Springfield?
Median household income is $56,120 in Kansas City versus $47,677 in Springfield, per the US Census Bureau.

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