Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waterbury, CT
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories
Waterbury
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Wichita
Kansas
17
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.
Waterbury, CT
Pros
40% less violent crime than Wichita
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Wichita by $9,261/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.7%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Wichita, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $225/mo less ($915 vs $1,140)
Households earn $9,261 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Waterbury
Violent Crime
40% lower
322.5 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$9,261
$60,712 vs $51,451/yr
Wichita
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.8% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waterbury, CT | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.1 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $162,800 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,140 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,451 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.7% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Waterbury School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.6" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 46.8" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,480 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waterbury's cost of living index is 95.1 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories. Waterbury wins 6 and Wichita wins 17. 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 Waterbury to Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($51,451 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waterbury, CT and Wichita, KS are about 1,316 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.