Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
14
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $16,943 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 44°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($166,400 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $597/mo less ($915 vs $1,512)
36% less violent crime than Atlanta
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
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 Atlanta by $16,943/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$16,943
$77,655 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
36% lower
538.6 vs 840.6 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$229k less
$166,400 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 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 | 204⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $166,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Wichita, KS are about 773 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.