Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 12 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Wichita
Kansas
12
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.
Provo, UT
Pros
62% less violent crime than Wichita
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Wichita
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Wichita by $2,769/yr
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($166,400 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $174/mo less ($915 vs $1,089)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,769 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Violent Crime
62% lower
206.6 vs 538.6 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$2,769
$60,712 vs $57,943/yr
Wichita
Median Home Value
$225k less
$166,400 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 12 of 23 categories. Provo wins 11 and Wichita wins 12. 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 Provo to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($57,943 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Wichita, KS are about 787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.