Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Wichita
Kansas
14
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.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $25k less ($141,900 vs $166,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita by $6,546/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
9% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $111/mo less ($915 vs $1,026)
Households earn $6,546 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$25k less
$141,900 vs $166,400
Wichita
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$6,546
$60,712 vs $54,166/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
9% lower
538.6 vs 594.6 per 100k
Wichita
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 9 and Wichita wins 14. 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 Montgomery to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $166,400 median home), income ($54,166 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Wichita, KS are about 727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.