Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Wichita, KS

    Is Wichita a good place to live?

    Watch Wichita

    Wichita ranks #13 of 16 Kansas cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (37/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $179,500
    +7.9% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $960
    per month
    Household income
    $63,072
    median
    Unemployment
    5.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Wichita

    The median home value in Wichita is $179,500 and median rent is $960 a month, against a median household income of $63,072. Homes cost about 2.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Wichita crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Kansas the 2025 rate was 476 violent and 1,922 property crimes per 100,000 people — #6 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Wichita, KS

    Wichita has about 396,488 residents, 5.7% unemployment and 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Wichita with

    Wichita vs Overland ParkWichita vs Kansas CityWichita vs OlatheWichita vs TopekaWichita vs LawrenceWichita vs ShawneeWichita vs LenexaWichita vs Manhattan

    More: Where to move in Kansas · Best counties in Kansas

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report