Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Wichita
Kansas
10
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Wichita
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,209 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 44°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($166,400 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $349/mo less ($915 vs $1,264)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Commutes run 6 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
Median income trails Denton by $11,209/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$11,209
$71,921 vs $60,712/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
62% lower
204.2 vs 538.6 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 92.6°F
Wichita
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$130k less
$166,400 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton'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, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 13 and Wichita wins 10. 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 Denton to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $166,400 median home), income ($71,921 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Wichita, KS are about 309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.