City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $975 in Wichita.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Wichita and Toledo. Wichita averages 61°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $975 versus $934.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo costs less and Wichita 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 crime gap is citywide. Toledo has rougher pockets and Wichita has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Wichita and Toledo are 781 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $934 a month in Toledo, down $41 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $62,224 in Toledo, down $2,396 (4%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 221 in Toledo, down 105 points (32%).
The move
Toledo and Wichita are 781 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $975 a month in Wichita, up $41 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $64,620 in Wichita, up $2,396 (4%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 326 in Wichita, up 105 points (48%).
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Wichita and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Toledo rent is 4% cheaper than Wichita
Wichita
$975/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $975 in Wichita, so Toledo is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $41, or $492 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 Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Wichita's median income is 4% higher than Toledo
Wichita
Winner$64,620
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Wichita (about $2,396 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
32% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 32% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
46% more comfortable
Wichita weather is 46% more comfortable than Toledo
Wichita
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Wichita scores 46% 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 Toledo 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 4% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Wichita (221 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Toledo: Toledo scores 36/100 versus 24/100 in Wichita, with typical rent at $934 versus $975. I would vet the exact ZIP in Wichita before trading 12 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (36/100 in Toledo vs 24/100 in Wichita), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $62,224 in Toledo.
If safety drives your move, Toledo is the stronger match (36/100 safety versus 24/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Wichita, treat $975/month rent and $64,620 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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