Wichita receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Wichita
Oklahoma City
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 36%
vs55 · Bottom 48%
Growth
66 · Top 24%
vs66 · Top 23%
Climate
64 · Bottom 43%
vs62 · Bottom 33%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 41%
vs48 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 17%
vs96 · Top 33%
Access
97 · Top 20%
vs99 · Top 7%
Economic stability
68 · Top 36%
vs65 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Wichita | Oklahoma City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 652,622 | 1,463,267 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,655 | $72,094 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,675 | $39,078 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 157/sq mi | 265/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $201,200 | $230,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $987 | $1,124 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.3% | 63.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8% | 34.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 13.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,881 | 7,710 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.9 | 5.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 23.0% | -0.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.6" | 36.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.7 | 36.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Wichita
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Oklahoma City
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Wichita
73
Your Score
69
Area Score
Oklahoma City
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Wichita, KS Metro Area · Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology