Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 19 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Wichita
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
66% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $320/mo less ($915 vs $1,235)
Homes cost $37k less ($166,400 vs $202,900)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$2,363
$60,712 vs $58,349/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
66% lower
538.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$37k less
$166,400 vs $202,900
Wichita
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 19 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 4 and Wichita wins 19. 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 Baltimore to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $166,400 median home), income ($58,349 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Wichita, KS are about 1,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.