Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Chandler leads 15 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618
Wichita
Kansas
8
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.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $38,662 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Wichita
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 44°F
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Wichita
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($166,400 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $760/mo less ($915 vs $1,675)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $38,662/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Median Income
$38,662
$99,374 vs $60,712/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
75% lower
133.4 vs 538.6 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.6°F
Wichita
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$258k less
$166,400 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 15 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 15 and Wichita wins 8. 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 Chandler to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $166,400 median home), income ($99,374 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Wichita, KS are about 870 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.