Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 44°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
54% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Homes cost $80k less ($166,400 vs $246,000)
Rent averages $99/mo less ($915 vs $1,014)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Albuquerque
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$791
$61,503 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
54% lower
538.6 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$80k less
$166,400 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Wichita wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($61,503 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Wichita, KS are about 547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.