Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Trenton, NJ
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 19 of 23 categories
Trenton
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Wichita
Kansas
19
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.
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($111,200 vs $166,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Wichita by $16,268/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Wichita
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
47% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $16,268 more per year on average
Rent averages $262/mo less ($915 vs $1,177)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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
Trenton
Median Home Value
$55k less
$111,200 vs $166,400
Wichita
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$16,268
$60,712 vs $44,444/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
47% lower
538.6 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Wichita
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Trenton, NJ | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.1⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,200 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,177 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,444 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (75) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Trenton Public School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.6" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,055 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Trenton's cost of living index is 102.1 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 19 of 23 categories. Trenton wins 4 and Wichita wins 19. 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 Trenton to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,200 vs $166,400 median home), income ($44,444 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Trenton, NJ and Wichita, KS are about 1,222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.