What is the Difference between Kansas City Kansas and Kansas City Missouri?

There are a lot of differences as well as similarities between Kansas City Kansas and Kansas City Missouri. If you do not live in the Kansas City area, it might be a little complicated to understand by just looking at the Kansas City map. If you live in Kansas City KS (KCK) or Kansas City MO (KCMO), then you are considered living in the Kansas City Metro area which is a much larger area than just Kansas City. The Kansas City Metro area includes large cities such as Overland Park, KS.

What is the Difference between Kansas City Kansas and Kansas City Mossouri?

Below are some of the major differences and similarities between the two cities.

Location: Different State, Different Counties, Different Cities

Kansas City Kansas is a city in the state of Kansas whereas Kansas City Missouri is located in the state of Missouri. The two states share a border but they are totally separate. Kansas City MO is in Jackson County MO whereas Kansas City KS is in Wyandotte County in Kansas. While sharing the same name, the two cities are legally not the same at all.

City Characteristics

The characteristics of Kansas City KS is very different from Kansas City MO. For example, the tax rates are different, city planning is different, the demographic of residents is different, city wealth is different and the court system is different. Kansas City MO is a lot bigger than Kansas City KS. KCMO also has a lot more money. While you can see a lot of tall buildings and sky scrapers from a far distant of KCMO, KCK has lots of old and run down buildings, no sky scrapers and a lot of factories.

Picture of industrialized Kansas City Kansas

Residents

There are more people living in Kansas City MO than in Kansas City KS. Kansas City MO has people ranging from rich to homeless and poor whereas Kansas City Kansas has less diversity. The crime rate is quite high in most areas of Kansas City KS whereas in Kansas City MO, there are areas that are quite safe and there are also areas that are as bad as in Kansas City KS. Homes in Kansas City MO range from millions of dollars homes to less than $10,000 but the median price of homes in Kansas City KS is much lower.