Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waco, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 22 categories
Waco
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Wichita
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
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.
Waco, TX
Pros
21% less violent crime than Wichita
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Wichita by $13,291/yr
Wichita, KS
Pros
Households earn $13,291 more per year on average
Rent averages $123/mo less ($915 vs $1,038)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
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
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Waco
Violent Crime
21% lower
425.9 vs 538.6 per 100k
Waco
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$13,291
$60,712 vs $47,421/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waco, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $174,100 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,421 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.0% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | WACO ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,545 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waco's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 22 categories. Waco wins 9 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 Waco to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,100 vs $166,400 median home), income ($47,421 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waco, TX and Wichita, KS are about 424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.