Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
Wichita
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Households earn $2,604 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Wichita
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($166,400 vs $286,900)
20% less violent crime than Spokane
Rent averages $145/mo less ($915 vs $1,060)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane by $2,604/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Median Income
$2,604
$63,316 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
20% lower
538.6 vs 674.9 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$121k less
$166,400 vs $286,900
Wichita
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories. Spokane wins 8 and Wichita wins 15. 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 Spokane to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $166,400 median home), income ($63,316 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and Wichita, KS are about 1,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.