Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 44°F
Households earn $3,426 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($166,400 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($915 vs $1,281)
14% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Jacksonville by $3,426/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$3,426
$64,138 vs $60,712/yr
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
14% lower
538.6 vs 623.8 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$77k less
$166,400 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 8 and Wichita wins 14. 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 Jacksonville to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($64,138 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Wichita, KS are about 1,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.