Huntington Beach CA vs Kansas City MO — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Huntington Beach, CA

California · Population: 196,010

  • Median HH Income$119,885
  • Median Home Price$1,364,265
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+47.2%

Kansas City, MO

Missouri · Population: 508,233

  • Median HH Income$67,449
  • Median Home Price$253,319
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+37.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Huntington Beach
196,010
Kansas City
508,233
Kansas City +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Huntington Beach
N/A
Kansas City
N/A
Median Age
Huntington Beach
43.4
Kansas City
35.7
Kansas City +
Foreign Born
Huntington Beach
16.4%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
8.5%
White
Huntington Beach
64.3%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
57.8%
Black
Huntington Beach
1.3%
Kansas City
25.8%
Kansas City +
Asian
Huntington Beach
12.6%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
2.7%
Hispanic
Huntington Beach
19.4%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
12.3%
Spanish at Home
Huntington Beach
N/A
Kansas City
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Huntington Beach
$119,885
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
$67,449
Per Capita Income
Huntington Beach
$62,450
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
$40,112
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Huntington Beach
$77,230
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
$58,527
Unemployment Rate
Huntington Beach
5.4%
Kansas City
4.7%
Kansas City +
Poverty Rate
Huntington Beach
7.4%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
14.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Huntington Beach
47.2%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
37.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Huntington Beach
$1,364,265
Kansas City
$253,319
Kansas City +
Homeownership Rate
Huntington Beach
55.8%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
54.6%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Huntington Beach
503
Kansas City
501
Kansas City +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Huntington Beach
2388
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
2418

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
24.0%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
38.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
10.2%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
12.0%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Huntington Beach
16.2%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
18.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
6.4%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
10.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
16.2%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
16.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
8.9%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
15.6%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Huntington Beach
N/A
Kansas City
54.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Huntington Beach
N/A
Kansas City
38.9 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Huntington Beach
7.9 µg/m³
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
9.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Huntington Beach
75.0%
Huntington Beach +
Kansas City
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Huntington Beach
31.2 min
Kansas City
23.4 min
Kansas City +

Which City is Right for You?

Huntington Beach leads in median household income at $119,885, while kansas City offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $253,319. On public safety, Kansas City is safer with a violent crime rate of 501 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Huntington Beach. Kansas City has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and Huntington Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Huntington Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Huntington Beach & Kansas City