Douglas County vs Sedgwick County
Douglas County, Kansas versus Sedgwick County, Kansas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Douglas County edges out Sedgwick County on overall objective livability (46 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Douglas County | Sedgwick County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $66k | $65k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $42k |
| Home Value | $260k | $176k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $937 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $25k | $127k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.25% | 1.27% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.50% | 12.00% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | 5.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 33°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 81°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8 in | 36.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5 in | 11.4 in |
| Sunny Days | 269 days | 234 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 56 days | 65 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 74.8 | 96.6 |
| Air Quality | — | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 44.2 | 56.7 |
| Violent Crime | 1721/100k | 3015/100k |
| Property Crime | 1992/100k | 3573/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 119,094 | 522,700 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 35.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.35 | 0.45 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | D+40 | R+13 |
| White (%) | 77.1% | 66.4% |
| Black (%) | 3.9% | 7.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.7% | 15.5% |
| Asian (%) | 4.9% | 4.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 7.5% | 6.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 8.7/20 | 10.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 41 mi | 136 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.1% | 89.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 11.25 | 1.91 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Douglas County or Sedgwick County more affordable?
- Sedgwick County has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Douglas County's $46k and Sedgwick County's $42k. Median rent is $1k in Douglas County versus $937 in Sedgwick County.
- Is Douglas County or Sedgwick County safer?
- Douglas County has the lower violent crime rate. Douglas County reports 1721/100k and Sedgwick County reports 3015/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Douglas County or Sedgwick County?
- The median home value is $260k in Douglas County and $176k in Sedgwick County, so homes are more affordable in Sedgwick County.