Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Wichita
Kansas
10
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $45,302 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Wichita
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wichita
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $387k less ($166,400 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $791/mo less ($915 vs $1,706)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $45,302/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$45,302
$106,014 vs $60,712/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
47% lower
285.6 vs 538.6 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$387k less
$166,400 vs $553,000
Wichita
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 13 and Wichita wins 10. 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 Arvada to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Wichita, KS are about 446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.