Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Wichita
Kansas
15
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita by $11,815/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
64% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $11,815 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$11k less
$155,200 vs $166,400
Wichita
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$11,815
$60,712 vs $48,897/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
64% lower
538.6 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Wichita
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 8 and Wichita wins 15. 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 Macon-Bibb County to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $166,400 median home), income ($48,897 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Wichita, KS are about 840 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.