Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 12 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
41% less violent crime than Wichita
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($166,400 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $354/mo less ($915 vs $1,269)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$769
$61,481 vs $60,712/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
41% lower
317.9 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$240k less
$166,400 vs $406,000
Wichita
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 11 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 Eugene to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($61,481 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Wichita, KS are about 1,410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.