Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 18 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita by $10,979/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
62% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $10,979 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 30°F
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
Wichita
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$10,979
$60,712 vs $49,733/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
62% lower
538.6 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Wichita
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 18 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 5 and Wichita wins 18. 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 Milwaukee to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($49,733 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Wichita, KS are about 617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.