City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The cost gap between Colorado Springs and Wichita is the real story here. Wichita comes in 41% cheaper on typical rent ($1,648 vs $975), which over a year adds up to $8,076. Median household income runs $84,818 in Colorado Springs and $64,620 in Wichita.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Wichita costs less and Colorado Springs pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Colorado Springs and Wichita are 413 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $975 a month in Wichita, down $673 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $64,620 in Wichita, down $20,198 (24%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 326 in Wichita, up 126 points (63%).
The move
Wichita and Colorado Springs are 413 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $673 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $20,198 (31%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 126 points (39%).
Colorado Springs, CO
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 Colorado Springs and Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Wichita rent is 41% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Wichita is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $673/month back in your pocket ($8,076/year). Over five years that's $40,380 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 Colorado Springs, 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 Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 31% higher than Wichita
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Wichita
$64,620
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Colorado Springs (about $20,198 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, Colorado Springs 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
39% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 39% lower than Wichita
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs 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
24% more comfortable
Wichita weather is 24% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Wichita
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Wichita averages around 61°F. Wichita scores 24% 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 Colorado Springs 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 and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 31% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Wichita (200 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% 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.
Pick Wichita if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 24%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Wichita is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Wichita at $975/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs ($673 apart). Colorado Springs median income is $84,818 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 Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $64,620 in Wichita.
If housing cost drives your move, Wichita is the stronger match ($975/month rent against $1,648). If an employer or family tie already points to Colorado Springs, treat $1,648/month rent and $84,818 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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