City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Wichita and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 133 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $975 in Wichita and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Wichita costs less and Durham 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
Wichita and Durham are 1,025 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $533 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $81,619 in Durham, up $16,999 (26%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 193 in Durham, down 133 points (41%).
The move
Durham and Wichita are 1,025 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $975 a month in Wichita, down $533 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $64,620 in Wichita, down $16,999 (21%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 326 in Wichita, up 133 points (69%).
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Wichita and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Wichita rent is 35% cheaper than Durham
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,508 in Durham, so Wichita is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $533/month back in your pocket ($6,396/year). Over five years that's $31,980 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 Durham, 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
26% higher
Durham's median income is 26% higher than Wichita
Wichita
$64,620
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Durham (about $16,999 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, Durham 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
41% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 41% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in Durham. 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, Durham 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
7% more comfortable
Wichita weather is 7% more comfortable than Durham
Wichita
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Wichita scores 7% 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 Durham 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
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% 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 Durham on this page's weather index by 7%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Wichita is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Wichita (193 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
Housing separates these metros first: $975/month in Wichita versus $1,508 in Durham. Median income reads $64,620 in Wichita and $81,619 in Durham, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Wichita rent at $975/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $64,620 in Wichita.
Pick Wichita when shaving $533 off rent at $975/month is the priority. Otherwise, Durham's case rests on $1,508/month rent with $81,619 local income.
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