Compare

Kansas City vs East Moline

Which is the better fit for you?

Kansas City, KS
58
Area Score
Bottom 42% nationally
East Moline, IL
59
Area Score
Bottom 43% nationally

Kansas City and East Moline receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.

Signals

Kansas City
East Moline
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 15%
vs
40 · Bottom 17%
Growth
63 · Top 27%
vs
52 · Top 48%
Climate
66 · Bottom 36%
vs
59 · Bottom 13%
Physical resilience
74 · Top 32%
vs
80 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 28%
vs
100 · Top 8%
Schools
13 · Bottom 4%
vs
19 · Bottom 10%
Access
95 · Top 34%
vs
97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
50 · Bottom 31%
vs
38 · Bottom 14%

Measured values

MetricKansas CityEast MolineSource period
Population155,13520,9042024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$62,401$61,7792024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$29,317$29,1742024 ACS 5-Year
Population density1,244/sq mi1,432/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$167,400$134,6002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,123$8682024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate60.9%64.4%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate4.8%4.5%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)-2.1%-1.7%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher20.8%21.2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate16.0%19.8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)5172012 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents3.31.012 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)29.9%400.0%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high90°F86°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low22°F15°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation38.1"38.3"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport12 mi8 miNASR current cycle
Average commute24.0 min20.3 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age33.938.92024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools57112024-25 school year
Students per teacher15.7014.902024-25 school year
Math proficiency12.6%8.8%2019-20 school year
Reading proficiency20.1%12.7%2019-20 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility76.5%78.7%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

Kansas and Illinois do not give the same test. Each state writes its own assessment and sets its own passing score, so the two proficiency rows above are not directly comparable — the difference between them partly measures which standard is harder. Students per teacher and the school count are unaffected, and each profile ranks its own proficiency within its own state.

Physical risk tradeoff

Kansas City

Elevated or high exposure: tornado, hail.

East Moline

Elevated or high exposure: hail.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Kansas City
61
Your Score
58
Area Score
East Moline
61
Your Score
59
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Kansas City, KS · East Moline, IL · How this is calculated: methodology

Kansas City vs East Moline: Location Comparison | AreaProfile