Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
14
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 44°F
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,273 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($166,400 vs $270,700)
Rent averages $390/mo less ($915 vs $1,305)
18% less violent crime than Dallas
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Commutes run 8 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
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Dallas by $3,273/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$3,273
$63,985 vs $60,712/yr
Dallas
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 92.6°F
Wichita
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
18% lower
538.6 vs 658.2 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$104k less
$166,400 vs $270,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 9 and Wichita wins 14. 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 Dallas to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($63,985 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Wichita, KS are about 340 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.