City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Wichita split most clearly. Austin scores 164 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $975 in Wichita.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Wichita makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Wichita at $975 average has pockets that run $775 and others at $1,375: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Wichita are 514 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $975 a month in Wichita, down $754 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $64,620 in Wichita, down $29,038 (31%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 326 in Wichita, up 164 points (101%).
The move
Wichita and Austin are 514 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $754 a month (77%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $93,658 in Austin, up $29,038 (45%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 162 in Austin, down 164 points (50%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Wichita rent is 44% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,729 in Austin, so Wichita is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $754/month back in your pocket ($9,048/year). Over five years that's $45,240 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Wichita is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Austin's median income is 45% higher than Wichita
Austin
Winner$93,658
Wichita
$64,620
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Austin (about $29,038 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Wichita can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
50% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 50% lower than Wichita
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Austin weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Wichita averages around 61°F. Austin scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Wichita if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 45% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Wichita (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Wichita
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Wichita at $975/month versus $1,729 in Austin ($754 apart). Austin median income is $93,658 against $64,620 in Wichita, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Wichita rent at $975/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $64,620 in Wichita.
Wichita clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Austin deserves a serious look only when your $93,658 income offer in Austin outweighs saving $754/month in Wichita.
Common questions
Ready to move to Austin?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Wichita, plus other cities in TX and KS.
