City comparison
Yes. Wichita's crime index is 326 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 353 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,060 in Cleveland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Wichita and Cleveland. Wichita averages 61°F while Cleveland averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $975 versus $1,060.
Wichita is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Cleveland in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Wichita and Cleveland are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, up $85 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $152 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 341 in Cleveland, up 15 points (5%).
The move
Cleveland and Wichita are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $975 a month in Wichita, down $85 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $64,620 in Wichita, up $152 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 326 in Wichita, down 15 points (4%).
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Wichita and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Wichita rent is 8% cheaper than Cleveland
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Cleveland
$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,060 in Cleveland, so Wichita is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $85, or $1,020 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
1% higher
Wichita's median income is 1% higher than Cleveland
Wichita
Winner$64,620
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Wichita (about $152 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
4% lower crime
Wichita's crime index is 4% lower than Cleveland
Wichita
Winner326 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Wichita's crime index is 326 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Wichita. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Wichita, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Cleveland. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
35% more comfortable
Wichita weather is 35% more comfortable than Cleveland
Wichita
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Wichita scores 35% 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 Cleveland 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
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($64,620), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Wichita is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Cleveland (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
On these five categories Wichita takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Cleveland because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Cleveland only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Wichita is the warmer market (61°F) and Cleveland the cooler (53°F). Typical leases run $975 and $1,060; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $85 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 24/100 in Wichita and 23/100 in Cleveland.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Wichita; Cleveland only makes sense when 53°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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