New Rochelle NY vs Wichita KS — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

New Rochelle, NY

New York · Population: 48,198

  • Median HH Income$48,535
  • Median Home Price$920,484
  • Unemployment9.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.8%

Wichita, KS

Kansas · Population: 396,488

  • Median HH Income$63,072
  • Median Home Price$204,104
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+30.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
New Rochelle
48,198
Wichita
396,488
Wichita +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New Rochelle
N/A
Wichita
N/A
Median Age
New Rochelle
40.7
Wichita
35.7
Wichita +
Foreign Born
New Rochelle
4.6%
Wichita
10.0%
Wichita +
White
New Rochelle
66.1%
Wichita
66.6%
Wichita +
Black
New Rochelle
17.8%
New Rochelle +
Wichita
9.7%
Asian
New Rochelle
2.3%
Wichita
4.9%
Wichita +
Hispanic
New Rochelle
8.0%
Wichita
18.4%
Wichita +
Spanish at Home
New Rochelle
N/A
Wichita
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
New Rochelle
$48,535
Wichita
$63,072
Wichita +
Per Capita Income
New Rochelle
$30,033
Wichita
$35,958
Wichita +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New Rochelle
$77,425
New Rochelle +
Wichita
$61,860
Unemployment Rate
New Rochelle
9.7%
Wichita
5.7%
Wichita +
Poverty Rate
New Rochelle
23.7%
Wichita
15.9%
Wichita +
Bachelor's Degree+
New Rochelle
22.8%
Wichita
30.9%
Wichita +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New Rochelle
$920,484
Wichita
$204,104
Wichita +
Homeownership Rate
New Rochelle
57.5%
Wichita
58.4%
Wichita +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
434
New Rochelle +
Wichita
449
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
1736
New Rochelle +
Wichita
2174

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
26.6%
New Rochelle +
Wichita
39.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
10.6%
New Rochelle +
Wichita
12.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New Rochelle
13.8%
New Rochelle +
Wichita
17.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.5%
New Rochelle +
Wichita
12.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
14.9%
New Rochelle +
Wichita
15.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.3%
New Rochelle +
Wichita
16.3%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
Wichita
57.0°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
Wichita
32.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
8.1 µg/m³
New Rochelle +
Wichita
8.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
New Rochelle
75.0%
Wichita
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New Rochelle
20.0 min
New Rochelle +
Wichita
20.2 min

Which City is Right for You?

Wichita leads in median household income at $63,072, while wichita offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $204,104. On public safety, New Rochelle is safer with a violent crime rate of 434 per 100,000 residents, compared to 449 in Wichita. Wichita has a lower unemployment rate at 5.7%, and New Rochelle has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New Rochelle scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About New Rochelle & Wichita