Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Wichita
Kansas
13
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.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $22,226 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Wichita
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($166,400 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $611/mo less ($915 vs $1,526)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $22,226/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Median Income
$22,226
$82,938 vs $60,712/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
27% lower
394.4 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$257k less
$166,400 vs $423,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 10 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 Sparks to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($82,938 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Wichita, KS are about 1,211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.