Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
47% less violent crime than Wichita
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Households earn $4,251 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Rent averages $164/mo less ($915 vs $1,079)
Homes cost $28k less ($166,400 vs $194,400)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kenosha by $4,251/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Income
$4,251
$64,963 vs $60,712/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
47% lower
285.7 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$28k less
$166,400 vs $194,400
Wichita
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Kenosha wins 10 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 Kenosha to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $166,400 median home), income ($64,963 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Wichita, KS are about 603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.