Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,333 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Wichita
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 44°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Wichita
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $450k less ($166,400 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $900/mo less ($915 vs $1,815)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $42,333/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$42,333
$103,045 vs $60,712/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
22% lower
420.0 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$450k less
$166,400 vs $616,000
Wichita
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson 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 Carson to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Wichita, KS are about 1,199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.