City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,073 in El Paso.
Safety is where El Paso and Wichita split most clearly. El Paso scores 239 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $975 in Wichita.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Wichita is the easier city on typical rent, but El Paso can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Wichita has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Wichita are 661 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $975 a month in Wichita, down $98 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $64,620 in Wichita, up $4,875 (8%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 326 in Wichita, up 239 points (275%).
The move
Wichita and El Paso are 661 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,073 a month in El Paso, up $98 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $59,745 in El Paso, down $4,875 (8%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 87 in El Paso, down 239 points (73%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Wichita rent is 9% cheaper than El Paso
El Paso
$1,073/mo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,073 in El Paso, so Wichita is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $98, or $1,176 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Wichita's median income is 8% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Wichita
Winner$64,620
Median household income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Wichita (about $4,875 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
73% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 73% lower than Wichita
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
El Paso weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Wichita averages around 61°F. El Paso 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Wichita on this page's weather index by 12%. Wichita may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 73% lower than Wichita (87 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% 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.
Wichita is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($64,620). Start with Wichita if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 24/100 in Wichita. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $975/month in Wichita, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in El Paso vs 24/100 in Wichita), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in El Paso; Wichita only makes sense when you have walked the Wichita ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $975 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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