Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Green Bay leads 12 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846
Wichita
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
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.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
8% less violent crime than Wichita
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Green Bay
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Violent Crime
8% lower
495.1 vs 538.6 per 100k
Green Bay
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$1,538
$60,712 vs $59,174/yr
Wichita
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $915 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 12 of 23 categories. Green Bay wins 12 and Wichita wins 11. 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 Green Bay to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($59,174 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Wichita, KS are about 678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.