Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Wichita
Kansas
10
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
58% less violent crime than Wichita
Households earn $31,746 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($166,400 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $320/mo less ($915 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $31,746/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$31,746
$92,458 vs $60,712/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
58% lower
228.1 vs 538.6 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$83k less
$166,400 vs $249,000
Wichita
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 82.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories. Livonia wins 13 and Wichita wins 10. 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 Livonia to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($92,458 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Wichita, KS are about 806 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.