City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Wichita and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 264 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 $1,841 in Plano.
Plano 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 Plano 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 Plano are 325 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $866 a month (89%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $112,253 in Plano, up $47,633 (74%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 62 in Plano, down 264 points (81%).
The move
Plano and Wichita are 325 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $975 a month in Wichita, down $866 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $64,620 in Wichita, down $47,633 (42%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 326 in Wichita, up 264 points (426%).
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Wichita and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Wichita rent is 47% cheaper than Plano
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,841 in Plano, so Wichita is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $866/month back in your pocket ($10,392/year). Over five years that's $51,960 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
74% higher
Plano's median income is 74% higher than Wichita
Wichita
$64,620
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 74% higher in Plano (about $47,633 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, Plano 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
81% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 81% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 81% lower in Plano. 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, Plano 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
12% more comfortable
Plano weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano 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
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 47% 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 74% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 81% lower than Wichita (62 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
Wichita carries the heavier crime signal on this page (24/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 51-point spread matters more than the $866 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $64,620), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $64,620 in Wichita.
Pick Plano when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, Wichita's case rests on a Wichita ZIP you trust at $975 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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