Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 18 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Wichita
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Haven, CT
Pros
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Wichita by $6,407/yr
Wichita, KS
Pros
Rent averages $487/mo less ($915 vs $1,402)
Homes cost $70k less ($166,400 vs $236,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $6,407 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$6,407
$60,712 vs $54,305/yr
Wichita
Median Home Value
$70k less
$166,400 vs $236,500
Wichita
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 18 of 23 categories. New Haven 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 New Haven to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($54,305 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Wichita, KS are about 1,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.