City profile
Wichita, KS
Kansas’ largest city with an aviation heritage, low costs and a revived riverfront.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
33°F
Summer avg
80°F
Sunny days / yr
225
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$210,000
Typical monthly housing
$1,554
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
86
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.29%
- State income tax (top)
- 5.58%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.65%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 97/100
Top hazards: Ice storm, Cold wave, Tornado
Nearest major airport
131 mi to Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 42% Democratic / 56% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
397,945
Growth since 2019
+2.1%
Median age
35.7
Residents 65+
15.6%
Median household income
$64,620
Income growth since 2019
+22.8%
Black household income
$39,528
Home ownership
58.9%
Poverty rate
15.9%
Poverty rate, 65+
10.6%
Race & ethnicity: Black 9.3% · White 59.5% · Hispanic 19.0% · Asian 4.9% · Other 7.3%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
1,210 · 267% above the national average
Property crime
4,649 · 200% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Wichita Police Department. State average: violent 476, property 1,924.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home insurance premiums are rising quickly here
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hail, tornadoes
Highlights
- Low cost of living
- Riverfront Old Town
- Short commutes
Trade-offs
- Hail and tornado risk
- Car-dependent
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.