Wichita KS vs Wilmington DE — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Wichita, KS
Kansas · Population: 396,488
- Median HH Income$63,072
- Median Home Price$204,104
- Unemployment5.7%
- Bachelor's+30.9%
Wilmington, DE
Delaware · Population: 71,124
- Median HH Income$55,269
- Median Home Price$327,117
- Unemployment7.6%
- Bachelor's+33.1%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Wichita
396,488
Wichita +
Wilmington
71,124
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Wichita
N/A
Wilmington
N/A
Median Age
Wichita
35.7
Wichita +
Wilmington
37.0
Foreign Born
Wichita
10.0%
Wichita +
Wilmington
8.3%
White
Wichita
66.6%
Wichita +
Wilmington
32.4%
Black
Wichita
9.7%
Wilmington
52.3%
Wilmington +
Asian
Wichita
4.9%
Wichita +
Wilmington
1.6%
Hispanic
Wichita
18.4%
Wichita +
Wilmington
11.8%
Spanish at Home
Wichita
N/A
Wilmington
N/A
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 396,488 | 71,124 | Wichita + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 37.0 | Wichita + |
| Foreign Born | 10.0% | 8.3% | Wichita + |
| White | 66.6% | 32.4% | Wichita + |
| Black | 9.7% | 52.3% | Wilmington + |
| Asian | 4.9% | 1.6% | Wichita + |
| Hispanic | 18.4% | 11.8% | Wichita + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Wichita
$63,072
Wichita +
Wilmington
$55,269
Per Capita Income
Wichita
$35,958
Wilmington
$38,786
Wilmington +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Wichita
$61,860
Wilmington
$64,087
Wilmington +
Unemployment Rate
Wichita
5.7%
Wichita +
Wilmington
7.6%
Poverty Rate
Wichita
15.9%
Wichita +
Wilmington
23.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
Wichita
30.9%
Wilmington
33.1%
Wilmington +
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $63,072 | $55,269 | Wichita + |
| Per Capita Income | $35,958 | $38,786 | Wilmington + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $61,860 | $64,087 | Wilmington + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 7.6% | Wichita + |
| Poverty Rate | 15.9% | 23.2% | Wichita + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 30.9% | 33.1% | Wilmington + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Wichita
$204,104
Wichita +
Wilmington
$327,117
Homeownership Rate
Wichita
58.4%
Wichita +
Wilmington
46.0%
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $204,104 | $327,117 | Wichita + |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.4% | 46.0% | Wichita + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Wichita
449
Wilmington
394
Wilmington +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Wichita
2174
Wilmington
1991
Wilmington +
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 449 | 394 | Wilmington + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2174 | 1991 | Wilmington + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Wichita
39.5%
Wichita +
Wilmington
41.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Wichita
12.6%
Wichita +
Wilmington
16.0%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Wichita
17.7%
Wichita +
Wilmington
18.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Wichita
12.9%
Wilmington
12.7%
Wilmington +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Wichita
15.4%
Wilmington
13.5%
Wilmington +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Wichita
16.3%
Wichita +
Wilmington
16.4%
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 39.5% | 41.0% | Wichita + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.6% | 16.0% | Wichita + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.7% | 18.4% | Wichita + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 12.9% | 12.7% | Wilmington + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.4% | 13.5% | Wilmington + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.3% | 16.4% | Wichita + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Wichita
57.0°F
Wilmington
54.4°F
Wilmington +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Wichita
32.6 in
Wichita +
Wilmington
49.3 in
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 57.0°F | 54.4°F | Wilmington + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 32.6 in | 49.3 in | Wichita + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Wichita
8.2 µg/m³
Wichita +
Wilmington
8.8 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Wichita
75.0%
Wilmington
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | Wichita + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Wichita
20.2 min
Wichita +
Wilmington
25.0 min
| Metric | Wichita, KS | Wilmington, DE | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 20.2 min | 25.0 min | Wichita + |
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, Wilmington is safer with a violent crime rate of 394 per 100,000 residents, compared to 449 in Wichita. Wichita has a lower unemployment rate at 5.7%, and Wichita has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Wichita scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.5%.
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