Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Wichita
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $52,467 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Wichita
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Wichita
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $489k less ($166,400 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1068/mo less ($915 vs $1,983)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $52,467/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$52,467
$113,179 vs $60,712/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
59% lower
219.1 vs 538.6 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$489k less
$166,400 vs $655,700
Wichita
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 10 and Wichita wins 13. 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 Alexandria to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Wichita, KS are about 1,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.