Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 21 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Wichita
Kansas
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
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.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita by $13,035/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
40% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $13,035 more per year on average
Homes cost $32k less ($166,400 vs $198,500)
Rent averages $132/mo less ($915 vs $1,047)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$13,035
$60,712 vs $47,677/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
40% lower
538.6 vs 891.4 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$32k less
$166,400 vs $198,500
Wichita
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 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 | 195⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 21 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 2 and Wichita wins 21. 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 Springfield to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($47,677 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Wichita, KS are about 1,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.