Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094
Wichita
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $13,998 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($166,400 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $381/mo less ($915 vs $1,296)
13% less violent crime than Durham
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $13,998/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$13,998
$74,710 vs $60,712/yr
Durham
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
13% lower
538.6 vs 619.2 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$150k less
$166,400 vs $316,600
Wichita
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories. Durham wins 8 and Wichita wins 15. 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 Durham to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $166,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Wichita, KS are about 1,025 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.