Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $15,620 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wichita
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($166,400 vs $328,700)
54% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $352/mo less ($915 vs $1,267)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 22°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Minneapolis by $15,620/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$15,620
$76,332 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
54% lower
538.6 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$162k less
$166,400 vs $328,700
Wichita
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories. Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($76,332 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Wichita, KS are about 545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.