Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Wichita
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $16k less ($150,800 vs $166,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Wichita by $3,297/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
6% less violent crime than Independence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $105/mo less ($915 vs $1,020)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Median Home Value
$16k less
$150,800 vs $166,400
Wichita
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$3,297
$60,712 vs $57,415/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
6% lower
538.6 vs 571.2 per 100k
Wichita
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories. Independence wins 6 and Wichita wins 17. 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 Independence to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($57,415 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Wichita, KS are about 189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.