Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Washington, DC
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $41,010 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $539k less ($166,400 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $902/mo less ($915 vs $1,817)
42% less violent crime than Washington
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $41,010/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Washington
Median Income
$41,010
$101,722 vs $60,712/yr
Wichita
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Violent Crime
42% lower
538.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$539k less
$166,400 vs $705,000
Wichita
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $705,000⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,817⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,722 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.0% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 215⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 244⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.7% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | District of Columbia Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.8°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.6" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 670,587 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.4% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 23 categories. Washington wins 9 and Wichita wins 14. 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 Washington to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($705,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($101,722 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Washington, DC and Wichita, KS are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.