Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,314 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($166,400 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $549/mo less ($915 vs $1,464)
25% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Colorado Springs
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $18,314/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$18,314
$79,026 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
25% lower
538.6 vs 715.6 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$217k less
$166,400 vs $383,000
Wichita
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($79,026 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Wichita, KS are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.