City comparison
Yes. Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 309 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
The cost gap between Nashville and Wichita is the real story here. Wichita comes in 39% cheaper on typical rent ($1,586 vs $975), which over a year adds up to $7,332. Median household income runs $77,371 in Nashville and $64,620 in Wichita.
Nashville 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 Nashville 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
Nashville and Wichita are 592 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $975 a month in Wichita, down $611 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $64,620 in Wichita, down $12,751 (16%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 326 in Wichita, up 44 points (16%).
The move
Wichita and Nashville are 592 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $611 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $77,371 in Nashville, up $12,751 (20%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 282 in Nashville, down 44 points (13%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Wichita rent is 39% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Wichita is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $611/month back in your pocket ($7,332/year). Over five years that's $36,660 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 Nashville, 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 Nashville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Nashville's median income is 20% higher than Wichita
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Wichita
$64,620
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Nashville (about $12,751 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, Nashville 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
13% lower crime
Nashville's crime index is 13% lower than Wichita
Nashville
Winner282 (100 = avg)
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Nashville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Nashville, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Wichita. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 9% more comfortable than Wichita
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Wichita averages around 61°F. Nashville scores 9% 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 20% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Nashville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Wichita (282 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 39% 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 $1,586 in Nashville ($611 apart). Nashville median income is $77,371 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 Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 28/100 in Nashville and 24/100 in Wichita.
If housing cost drives your move, Wichita is the stronger match ($975/month rent against $1,586). If an employer or family tie already points to Nashville, treat $1,586/month rent and $77,371 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Wichita, plus other cities in TN and KS.
