City Comparison
Wichita vs Overland Park
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Overland Park scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Wichita
Overland Park
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Wichita is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
23% lower than in Overland Park.
Housing costs are a major driver: Wichita's average rent is
34% lower than Overland Park's.
| Metric | Wichita | Overland Park | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,450 | -34% |
| Groceries | $380 | $420 | -10% |
| Utilities | $170 | $175 | -3% |
| Transport | $110 | $115 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $1,830 | $2,390 | -23% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 102 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Overland Park offers 26% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Overland Park delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Wichita is estimated at
$48,000 vs $58,000 in Overland Park.
| Metric | Wichita | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,909 idx | 76,471 idx |
| Household Income | $65,200 | $95,450 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.5°F of each other.
For sunshine, Wichita comes out ahead with 14 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Overland Park sees 10.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Wichita | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 58.40°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 87.20°F | 86.10°F |
| Winter Low | 23.60°F | 22.20°F |
| Rainfall | 35.90 in | 42.60 in |
| Snowfall | 7.90 in | 18.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | 266 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Overland Park scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | Wichita | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 19 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 32.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Wichita is the larger city
— approximately 2x the population of Overland Park.
From a growth perspective, Overland Park is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Overland Park has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Wichita | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 397,532 | 197,238 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 38.4 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 2.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Overland Park
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest large cities in Kansas with low violent crime rates per FBI crime data.
Home to top-performing public school districts within Johnson County, attracting families from across the region.
Robust local economy anchored by major engineering, technology, and healthcare corporations.
Extensive park system featuring over 80 parks, athletic fields, and the 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum.
Vibrant and growing culinary, arts, and shopping scene centered around Downtown Overland Park and Prairiefire.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and housing prices are higher than the Kansas state average and national medians in certain sectors.
High automobile dependency with limited fixed-rail public transit options across the suburban expanse.
Property taxes in Johnson County can be relatively high for homeowners.
Humid continental climate brings hot summer peaks and cold winter freezes, requiring climate-controlled infrastructure.
Traffic congestion can spike during peak commute hours along major thoroughfares like I-435 and US-69.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Overland Park
#63Kansas, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
266/yr
Avg Temp
56.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
85
Business
79
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