Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Wichita
Kansas
14
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
44% less violent crime than Wichita
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,834 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wichita
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($166,400 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $557/mo less ($915 vs $1,472)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $17,834/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$17,834
$78,546 vs $60,712/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
44% lower
302.5 vs 538.6 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$250k less
$166,400 vs $416,500
Wichita
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 9 and Wichita wins 14. 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 Ann Arbor to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($78,546 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Wichita, KS are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.