Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Austin leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,844 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Wichita
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($166,400 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $634/mo less ($915 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $25,844/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$25,844
$86,556 vs $60,712/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
13% lower
466.9 vs 538.6 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 92.6°F
Wichita
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$295k less
$166,400 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin wins 12 and Wichita wins 11. 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 Austin to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Wichita, KS are about 511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.