Kansas City: Economy & Jobs
Kansas City's typical household earns $69,166 (about the same as Jackson County median $68,577; about the same as Missouri median $72,119), with homes at a median value of $242,900. The surrounding county supports 30,655 jobs (avg $48,331).
- $81,145 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $69,166 — near the Missouri median ($72,118). Poverty rate 14.6% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 40% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 39.9% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 14.6% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.9% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $53,580 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $4,347,747 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $81,145 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $76,859 |
| Median Household Income | $69,166 (vs Missouri $72,119) |
| Poverty Rate | 14.6% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $69,166 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.0% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 17% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 21.70 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 17.0% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 30,655 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,481,581,333 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $48,331 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,876,400 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% (vs Missouri 4.3%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 30 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 8,132 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 271.10 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Sod, Crop Totals, Grain, Soybeans, Animal Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 2,190 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 23,124 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,015,816 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 11 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 10 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 41 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 18 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Home Centers | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 58 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 63 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 6 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 19 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (30)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Kc Mini Mart |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 412 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | SOUTH KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $679,220,054 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,299.34 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 107,824 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 15 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 70.2% |
| Pct Public Transit | 1.6% |
| Pct Walked | 17.0% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 35.8 years (vs Missouri 39.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 25.2% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12