Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 12 of 22 categories
Aurora
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Wichita
Kansas
12
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
51% less violent crime than Wichita
Households earn $25,231 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Wichita
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Wichita, KS
Pros
Rent averages $547/mo less ($915 vs $1,462)
Homes cost $75k less ($166,400 vs $241,600)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $25,231/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$25,231
$85,943 vs $60,712/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
51% lower
266.0 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$75k less
$166,400 vs $241,600
Wichita
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 12 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Wichita wins 12. 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 Aurora to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $166,400 median home), income ($85,943 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Wichita, KS are about 557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.