Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365
Wichita
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($87,400 vs $166,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Wichita by $23,441/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
Households earn $23,441 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cleveland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$79k less
$87,400 vs $166,400
Wichita
Median Income
$23,441
$60,712 vs $37,271/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
65% lower
538.6 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Wichita
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 11.9% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $915 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 6 and Wichita wins 17. 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 Cleveland to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $166,400 median home), income ($37,271 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Wichita, KS are about 873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.