Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Wichita
Kansas
9
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
73% less violent crime than Wichita
Households earn $32,584 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($166,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $633/mo less ($915 vs $1,548)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $32,584/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Median Income
$32,584
$93,296 vs $60,712/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
73% lower
146.8 vs 538.6 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$259k less
$166,400 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 14 and Wichita wins 9. 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 Meridian to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($93,296 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Wichita, KS are about 1,076 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.