Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537
Wichita
Kansas
7
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.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $43,485 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Wichita
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wichita
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($166,400 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $853/mo less ($915 vs $1,768)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $43,485/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Median Income
$43,485
$104,197 vs $60,712/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
72% lower
152.5 vs 538.6 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 92.6°F
Wichita
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$485k less
$166,400 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Scottsdale wins 16 and Wichita wins 7. 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 Scottsdale to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($104,197 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Wichita, KS are about 859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.