Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 20 of 22 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Wichita
Kansas
20
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Wichita by $18,871/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
Households earn $18,871 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($915 vs $1,154)
Homes cost $33k less ($166,400 vs $198,900)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Violent Crime
4% lower
515.8 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$18,871
$60,712 vs $41,841/yr
Wichita
Median Home Value
$33k less
$166,400 vs $198,900
Wichita
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.6% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 20 of 22 categories. Hartford wins 2 and Wichita wins 20. 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 Hartford to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $166,400 median home), income ($41,841 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Wichita, KS are about 1,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.