Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Wichita
Kansas
13
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
40% less violent crime than Wichita
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,531 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wichita
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $753k less ($166,400 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $938/mo less ($915 vs $1,853)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $19,531/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$19,531
$80,243 vs $60,712/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
40% lower
322.3 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$753k less
$166,400 vs $919,700
Wichita
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($80,243 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Wichita, KS are about 455 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.