Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Wichita
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,074 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($166,400 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $750/mo less ($915 vs $1,665)
32% less violent crime than Lakewood
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $22,074/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$22,074
$82,786 vs $60,712/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
32% lower
538.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$328k less
$166,400 vs $494,100
Wichita
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood 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 Lakewood to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $166,400 median home), income ($82,786 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Wichita, KS are about 441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.