Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Wichita
Kansas
9
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,152 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Wichita
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 44°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Wichita
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($166,400 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1161/mo less ($915 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $55,152/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$55,152
$115,864 vs $60,712/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
65% lower
189.9 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$394k less
$166,400 vs $560,500
Wichita
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 and Wichita wins 9. 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 Elk Grove to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Wichita, KS are about 1,305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.