Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 16 of 23 categories
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308
Wichita
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
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.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,663 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($166,400 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $582/mo less ($915 vs $1,497)
18% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Modesto by $12,663/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Median Income
$12,663
$73,375 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
18% lower
538.6 vs 655.7 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$215k less
$166,400 vs $381,800
Wichita
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 16 of 23 categories. Modesto wins 7 and Wichita wins 16. 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 Modesto to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($73,375 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and Wichita, KS are about 1,290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.