Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Wichita
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,004 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Wichita
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $1114k less ($166,400 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1152/mo less ($915 vs $2,067)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
16% less violent crime than Berkeley
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $44,004/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$44,004
$104,716 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
16% lower
538.6 vs 638.8 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$1114k less
$166,400 vs $1,280,300
Wichita
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 10 and Wichita wins 13. 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 Berkeley to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $166,400 median home), income ($104,716 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Wichita, KS are about 1,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.