Emporia, KS vs Hutchinson, KS

Emporia, KS and Hutchinson, KS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.4% difference in their overall index. Emporia scores 66 while Hutchinson scores 68 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Emporia is $793/month compared to $883/month in Hutchinson — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Emporia has cheaper rent, Hutchinson actually has lower median home values ($122,600 vs $127,500).

Median household income in Emporia is $52,787 compared to $58,801 in Hutchinson (-10.2%). While Hutchinson is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Emporia spend roughly 18% of their income on rent, less than the 18% in Hutchinson.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (55.7°F vs 56.1°F). Emporia receives more rainfall at 34.8" per year compared to 28.3" in Hutchinson.