Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 22 categories
Glendale
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Wichita
Kansas
13
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
9% less violent crime than Wichita
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 44°F
Households earn $5,663 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($166,400 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($915 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 105°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $5,663/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$5,663
$66,375 vs $60,712/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
9% lower
488.4 vs 538.6 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 92.6°F
Wichita
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$144k less
$166,400 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 9 and Wichita wins 13. 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 Glendale to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($66,375 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Wichita, KS are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.