Is Memphis cheaper than Wichita?

No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $1,274 in Memphis — 14% lower. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Wichita has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Wichita?

Wichita is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 115 versus 140 in Memphis — 18% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Memphis or Wichita?

School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Wichita. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Wichita, KS

Memphis, TN versus Wichita, KS is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,274 a month in Memphis and $1,099 in Wichita, and median household income lands at $48,090 versus $60,712. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes weather, while Wichita takes affordability, job market, and safety. The widest gap is median income, where Wichita leads by 26% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Memphis can feel further apart than Memphis and Wichita do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Wichita reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Wichita report

Memphis, TN

Rent: $1,274/mo
Median income: $48,090
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Wichita, KS

Rent: $1,099/mo
Median income: $60,712
Crime index: 115
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Rent

14% cheaper

Wichita rent is 14% cheaper than Memphis

Memphis

$1,274/mo

Wichita

Winner

$1,099/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,099 a month in Wichita versus $1,274 in Memphis, so Wichita is 14% 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 $2,100 — 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 Memphis.

Median income

26% higher

Wichita's median income is 26% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$48,090

Wichita

Winner

$60,712

What this means for your life

Median household income is $60,712 in Wichita versus $48,090 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Wichita — about $12,622 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, Wichita is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

18% lower crime

Wichita's crime index is 18% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Wichita

Winner

115 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Wichita's crime index is 115 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Wichita. 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, Wichita is the easier city. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Memphis and Wichita are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Wichita

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Memphis, A- in Wichita). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

3% more comfortable

Memphis weather is 3% more comfortable than Wichita

Memphis

Winner

84°F typical

Wichita

85°F typical

What this means for your life

Memphis scores 3% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Memphis and 85°F in Wichita. Memphis reads as hot, long summers; Wichita reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Wichita's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Memphis

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (84°F) beat Wichita on this page's weather index by 3%. Wichita may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Memphis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Wichita

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,099 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Wichita is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($60,712). Start with Wichita if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Wichita is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Memphis (115 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.

Open the Wichita report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Wichita, called

If the job market is your priority, Wichita is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Memphis pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Wichita offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Memphis vs Wichita FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Wichita?: No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $1,274 in Memphis — 14% lower. Median household income is $48,090 in Memphis compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Wichita has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Wichita?: Wichita is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 115 versus 140 in Memphis — 18% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Memphis or Wichita?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Wichita. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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