Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 12 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Wichita
Kansas
12
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.
Conroe, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than Wichita
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,918 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 44°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($166,400 vs $262,500)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($915 vs $1,255)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Conroe by $10,918/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Median Income
$10,918
$71,630 vs $60,712/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
55% lower
243.5 vs 538.6 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$96k less
$166,400 vs $262,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 12 of 22 categories. Conroe wins 10 and Wichita wins 12. 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 Conroe to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($71,630 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Wichita, KS are about 520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.