Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salinas, CA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories
Salinas
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
162,783
Wichita
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
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.
Salinas, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,538 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Higher rents — median is $1,795/mo
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($166,400 vs $573,600)
Rent averages $880/mo less ($915 vs $1,795)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Salinas by $23,538/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salinas
Median Income
$23,538
$84,250 vs $60,712/yr
Salinas
Violent Crime
3% lower
524.5 vs 538.6 per 100k
Salinas
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$407k less
$166,400 vs $573,600
Wichita
Summer Heat
21.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 70.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salinas, CA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $573,600⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,795⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,250 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.7% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (57) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.0% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 62.0% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alisal Union | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.7°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 162,783 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.1% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.9% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salinas's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories. Salinas 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 Salinas to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($573,600 vs $166,400 median home), income ($84,250 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salinas, CA and Wichita, KS are about 1,335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.