City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where Wichita and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 192 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 $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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
Wichita and Huntsville are 633 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $196 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $10,094 (16%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 134 in Huntsville, down 192 points (59%).
The move
Huntsville and Wichita are 633 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $975 a month in Wichita, down $196 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $64,620 in Wichita, down $10,094 (14%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 326 in Wichita, up 192 points (143%).
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Wichita and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Wichita rent is 17% cheaper than Huntsville
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,171 in Huntsville, 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 $2,352, 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 Huntsville.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Huntsville's median income is 16% higher than Wichita
Wichita
$64,620
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Huntsville (about $10,094 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, Huntsville 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
59% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 59% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Huntsville. 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, Huntsville 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
6% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 6% more comfortable than Wichita
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 6% 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
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 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.
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 16% higher ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than Wichita (134 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
Safety is the widest gap: Huntsville scores 51/100 versus 24/100 in Wichita. Rent is $1,171/month in Huntsville and $975/month in Wichita, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $196 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $64,620 in Wichita.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Huntsville; Wichita only makes sense when you have walked the Wichita ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $975 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Huntsville?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Huntsville when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Wichita and Huntsville, plus other cities in KS and AL.
