Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190
Wichita
Kansas
13
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 44°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
34% less violent crime than Lubbock
Rent averages $178/mo less ($915 vs $1,093)
Homes cost $15k less ($166,400 vs $181,600)
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 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$1,978
$60,712 vs $58,734/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
34% lower
538.6 vs 821.0 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$15k less
$166,400 vs $181,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Lubbock 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 Lubbock to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $166,400 median home), income ($58,734 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Wichita, KS are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.