Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Wichita lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Wichita sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Wichita fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
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- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Wichita's strongest factors are Higher Education, Unique Hangouts and Star Power. Its heaviest drawbacks are Crime, Weather Extremes and Economic Strain.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Wichita
The Wichita read Free
A written read on Wichita, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Wichita scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Wichita, KS: A Quiet City with Unbeatable Going-Out Costs
Wichita, KS earns a Fun Score of 14, placing it in the "Quiet" category, and stands out nationally for its exceptionally affordable going-out experiences.
Why it scores high
Wichita offers a few notable strengths that contribute to its appeal. The city scores well in Going-Out Cost with a remarkable 92 out of 100, ranking tied for #1 nationally out of 134 cities. This means that enjoying entertainment, dining out, and other recreational activities in Wichita is significantly more affordable than in almost any other major city in the country, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget.
The city also boasts a strong Higher Education scene, scoring 59 and ranking tied for #55 nationally. This indicates a vibrant academic environment, likely contributing to a youthful energy and intellectual opportunities within the city. Additionally, Wichita provides a good variety of Unique Hangouts, achieving a score of 55 and ranking #61 nationally. This suggests residents and visitors can find interesting and distinctive places to spend their leisure time, such as escape rooms, arcades, or karaoke venues (OpenStreetMap + Google Places).
Furthermore, Wichita has a respectable level of Star Power, with a score of 51 and a national rank of #66. This indicates that the city attracts notable headliners for events and has a decent number of residents who have achieved recognition (SeatGeek + Wikidata).
Where it falls short
While Wichita has its advantages, there are areas where it faces challenges. The city's Crime score is low at 9, ranking tied for #128 nationally. This suggests a less safe environment compared to many other cities (FBI Crime Data Explorer + city open-data crime portals).
Another significant drawback is the city's vulnerability to Weather Extremes, scoring only 10 and ranking tied for #125 nationally. This indicates that residents may experience frequent or severe weather events (NOAA Storm Events + climate-extremes data). The Live Music scene also struggles, with a score of 8 and ranking tied for #123 nationally, suggesting limited options for those seeking concerts and performances (Ticketmaster + SeatGeek + OpenStreetMap).
Other areas that could see improvement include Coffee, with a score of 13 and a rank of #117, and Eats, scoring 15 and ranking #114. These scores suggest that the variety and quality of coffee shops and restaurants might be less extensive compared to higher-ranking cities (OpenStreetMap + Google Places). Similarly, the Drinks scene scores 17, ranking tied for #111, indicating a less vibrant bar and pub culture (OpenStreetMap + Google Places).
Who it's for
Wichita is best suited for individuals and families who prioritize affordability in their social life and appreciate a strong academic presence. It's a good fit for those who enjoy unique, local hangouts and are not as reliant on a bustling live music scene or extensive dining options. The city's low going-out costs make it particularly attractive for those looking to maximize their entertainment budget.
Cities like it
- Oklahoma City, OK: Similar in its regional character and a focus on affordability.
- Corpus Christi, TX: Shares a comparable overall fun score and a more relaxed pace of life.
- Lubbock, TX: Another city with a strong university presence and a generally quieter atmosphere.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Wichita’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Wichita, KS: 15/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/wichita-ks
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.