Columbia vs Wichita
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $190,800 in Wichita and $284,600 in Columbia.
- Wichita has the warmer winter: January highs of 44°F vs 40°F.
- Wichita has more scorching days: 65 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 35.
- Columbia is growing faster: +3.8% since 2020 vs +0.9%.
Side by side
| Columbia, MO | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 130,851 | 400,987 |
| Growth since 2020 | +3.8% | +0.9% |
| People per square mile | 1,937 | 2,429 |
| Median age | 29.5 | 35.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57% | 31% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $66,498 | $64,620 |
| Median home value | $284,600 | $190,800 |
| Home value to income | 4.3× | 3.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,097 | $975 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 89.4 | 88.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 69.2 | 66.2 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $67,100 | $66,700 |
| Homeowners | 49% | 59% |
| Top state income tax | 4.7% | 5.58% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.44% | 8.71% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 16.4 | 18.4 |
| Work from home | 10% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4% | 5.6% |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 15.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 40° / 23° | 44° / 23° |
| July high / low | 89° / 69° | 93° / 70° |
| Precipitation per year | 41 in | 34 in |
| Snowfall per year | 17 in | 13 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 35 | 65 |
| Nights below freezing | 101 | 103 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 85.8 | 96.6 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | 50% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.3% | +4.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +46% | +42.1% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Columbia: June and September to October. Wichita: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Columbia weather by month and Wichita weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,100 in Columbia and $66,700 in Wichita. Moving from Columbia to Wichita, you would need about $74,600 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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