What are the schools like in Wichita, KS?

Wichita is served primarily by Wichita. The district operates 54 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and 11 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Wichita?

The median household income in Wichita, KS is $60,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Wichita, KS?

Wichita has an average high temperature of 43.9°F in January and 92.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.7 inches.

Wichita, KS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wichita, KS affordable or expensive?

Wichita's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wichita is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $166,400 and the median rent is $915 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wichita, KS?

Wichita has a violent crime rate of 538.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2303.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wichita, KS a Good Place to Live?

Wichita is a large city of 395,951 in Kansas, with a median household income of $60,712 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Wichita stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wichita is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wichita city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.5

Wichita's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wichita costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wichita, KS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$166,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$915	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Wichita's violent crime rate is 538.6 per 100,000 residents — 42% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

538.6 /100k

Property Crime

2303.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wichita is served primarily by Wichita. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wichita, KS	National Avg
School District	Wichita	—
Elementary Schools	54	—
Middle Schools	14	—
High Schools	11	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wichita sees average highs of 43.9°F in January and 92.6°F in July, with 35.6 inches of annual precipitation and 12.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wichita, KS
Average High — January	43.9°F
Average High — July	92.6°F
Annual Precipitation	35.6"
Annual Snowfall	12.7"

Demographics

Metric	Wichita, KS	National Avg
Population	395,951	—
Median Age	35.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.7%	18.9%
Asian	4.8%	6.3%
Under 18	24.6%	22.2%
65 and over	15.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Eastborough, KS 5 mi McConnell AFB, KS 6 mi Oaklawn-Sunview, KS 6 mi Bel Aire, KS 8 mi Park City, KS 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Wichita

Wichita, KS is covered by 25 ZIP codes:

67209 67212 67217 67205 67204 67216 67226 67206 67207 67203 67213 67219 67235 67215 67230 67214 67220 67211 67218 67208 67202 67228 67223 67260 67232

Wichita vs Other Cities

Wichita, KS vs Eastborough, KS Wichita, KS vs McConnell AFB, KS Wichita, KS vs Oaklawn-Sunview, KS Wichita, KS vs Bel Aire, KS Wichita, KS vs Park City, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wichita, KS affordable or expensive?

Wichita's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wichita roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $166,400 and median rent is $915/month.

What is the crime rate in Wichita, KS?

Wichita's violent crime rate is 538.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2303.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wichita?

Public schools in Wichita are operated by Wichita. The district has 54 elementary, 14 middle, and 11 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 31.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wichita, KS a good place to live?

Wichita, KS has a population of 395,951, a median household income of $60,712, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wichita?

Wichita averages 43.9°F in January and 92.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.6 inches with about 12.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wichita?

Wichita, KS is covered by 25 ZIP codes: 67209, 67212, 67217, 67205, 67204, 67216, 67226, 67206, 67207, 67203, 67213, 67219, 67235, 67215, 67230, 67214, 67220, 67211, 67218, 67208, 67202, 67228, 67223, 67260, 67232.

What is the population of Wichita?

The population of Wichita, Kansas is 395,951 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wichita?

Key numbers for living in Wichita: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $166,400, median household income $60,712, crime index 129 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wichita side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.