City Comparison
Hays vs Wichita
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Hays scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Hays
Wichita
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hays is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
6% lower than in Wichita.
Housing costs are a major driver: Hays's average rent is
11% lower than Wichita's.
| Metric | Hays | Wichita | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $950 | -11% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $170 | +3% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $220 | -5% |
| Monthly Total | $1,725 | $1,830 | -6% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Wichita offers 7% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Wichita delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Hays is estimated at
$45,000 vs $48,000 in Wichita.
| Metric | Hays | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,364 idx | 65,909 idx |
| Household Income | $58,500 | $65,200 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.8°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Hays sees 7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Hays | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.60°F | 58.40°F |
| Summer High | 87.20°F | 87.20°F |
| Winter Low | 21.50°F | 23.60°F |
| Rainfall | 27.80 in | 35.90 in |
| Snowfall | 14.90 in | 7.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 283 | 280 |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Hays has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Wichita.
For walkability, Hays leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Hays | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 14 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 22.00 | 32.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Wichita is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Hays.
From a growth perspective, Hays is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Hays has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Hays | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,100 | 397,532 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.40% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 35.2 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Hays
Advantages
Median home prices in Hays remain significantly more affordable than the national average per recent housing data.
Hays Medical Center and Fort Hays State University provide robust employment and economic stability for the region.
Crime rates in Hays are consistently well below national averages, ensuring a safe family environment.
Average commute times are exceptionally short, typically under 15 minutes across the city.
The local economy features a lower-than-average unemployment rate supported by diverse industries.
Drawbacks
Geographic isolation from major metropolitan hubs requires significant travel for specialized entertainment or shopping.
Extreme continental weather brings hot summers and cold, windy winters with occasional severe storms.
Limited public transportation options make owning a personal vehicle essentially mandatory.
Regional dining and retail options, while growing, are more limited compared to larger Kansas cities.
Rental vacancy rates can tighten during the academic year due to the influx of university students.
Wichita
Advantages
Median home prices in Wichita are significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership highly accessible per Zillow data.
Average daily commute times are notably shorter than the U.S. average, reducing daily transit stress per Census Bureau reports.
The city offers a robust and growing arts and culinary scene, particularly in the historic Old Town and Delano districts.
Wichita serves as a major regional healthcare hub with world-class hospital systems like Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center.
Abundant green spaces, including the Arkansas River multi-use paths and Botanica Gardens, provide strong outdoor recreation options.
Drawbacks
The local economy experiences cyclical fluctuations due to its heavy reliance on the aerospace manufacturing sector.
Public transportation options are limited, resulting in a high degree of car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Summer temperatures can be quite high and breezy, while winters occasionally bring unpredictable severe weather and ice storms.
Certain urban core neighborhoods experience higher property crime rates relative to suburban developments.
Voter-approved public transit and infrastructure funding have historically lagged behind growing metropolitan expansion needs.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Hays
#93Kansas, USA
67.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
283/yr
Avg Temp
56.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
78
Business
70
Wichita
#290Kansas, USA
61.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
58.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
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