Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
13
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $10,616 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($166,400 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $477/mo less ($915 vs $1,392)
52% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $10,616/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$10,616
$71,328 vs $60,712/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
52% lower
538.6 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$185k less
$166,400 vs $351,400
Wichita
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 9 and Wichita wins 13. 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 Nashville-Davidson to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $166,400 median home), income ($71,328 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Wichita, KS are about 592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.