Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 18 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
Wichita
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita by $11,521/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
36% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $11,521 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Homes cost $26k less ($166,400 vs $192,000)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$11,521
$60,712 vs $49,191/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
36% lower
538.6 vs 845.6 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$26k less
$166,400 vs $192,000
Wichita
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $915 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 18 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 5 and Wichita wins 18. 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 Cincinnati to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($49,191 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Wichita, KS are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.