City comparison
No. Wichita's crime index is 326 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 353 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Wichita split most clearly. Wichita scores 169 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $975 in Wichita.
Wichita is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Memphis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Wichita 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
Memphis and Wichita are 442 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $975 a month in Wichita, down $206 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $64,620 in Wichita, up $12,884 (25%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 326 in Wichita, down 169 points (34%).
The move
Wichita and Memphis are 442 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $206 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $51,736 in Memphis, down $12,884 (20%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 495 in Memphis, up 169 points (52%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Wichita rent is 17% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Wichita is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,472, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Wichita still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Memphis.
Planning to buy in Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Wichita's median income is 25% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Wichita
Winner$64,620
Median household income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Wichita (about $12,884 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, Wichita is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Wichita's crime index is 34% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Wichita
Winner326 (100 = avg)
Wichita's crime index is 326 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Wichita. 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, Wichita is the easier city. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Wichita averages around 61°F. Memphis 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 Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Wichita on this page's weather index by 12%. Wichita may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 17% 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 25% higher here ($64,620). Start with Wichita if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Wichita is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Memphis (326 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Wichita leads on safety (24/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $975 in Wichita and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (24/100 in Wichita vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $975 in Wichita and $1,181 in Memphis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Wichita; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Wichita, plus other cities in TN and KS.
