justaduck0 OP t1_j5hkqq0 wrote on January 23, 2023 at 1:27 AM

Reply to comment by Fuzzy-Scar3055 in Moving from Kansas to New Hampshire (Manchester). Tips/advice? by justaduck0

I've never lived in Wichita, but I've driven through there, and spent many a weekend there, an infinite amount of times growing up that I feel qualified to give some perspective:

If you're used to cost-of-living in NH, then you'll find KS to be a cheaper breath of fresh air, especially with housing. The local eatery/bar scene is pretty decent, in addition to the nicer up-scale places. I will say that one of the worst parts about Wichita is the lack of decent public transportation (as is the case in most Kansas towns, including my own) and the influence of Big Business on the City Council, but there are plenty of activities and shopping to do here whether you're single or have a family (Sedgwick County Zoo, Towne East Square Mall, etc.) as well as other decent destinations that are within a 3-hour drive (Oklahoma City, OK, "Little Sweden" in Lindsborg, KS, and the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson all come to mind). There are also some decent hiking trails a short drive from Wichita if you're into that.

Also, the weather can almost randomize here frequently but it can generally be windy here, which is something most of us Kansans are used to. The crime rate has also been going up, but nowhere near the levels you would see in Chicago and, I'd imagine, Boston.

Hopefully this helps!

Fuzzy-Scar3055 t1_j5jy6nt wrote on January 23, 2023 at 3:27 PM

Thanks for the info. Manchester doesn’t have amazing transportation, idk how it compares. Manchester has a public bus but I’ve never used it. I know Wichita has (or had) allot of electric scooters scattered across the city. Manchester recently got into that but it’s far less. Manchester is not actually a very pleasant city to walk around it.

The cost of living is way cheaper that’s for sure. For what I pay for a shitty apartment in Manchester, I could have a pretty nice apartment overseeing the river in Wichita.

lellololes t1_j5ugdsg wrote on January 25, 2023 at 5:27 PM

I realize that this is a bit old, but some perspective on crime rates:

Boston has about half of the violent crime rate of Wichita, and there is no suburban sprawl in the city, either. The property crime rate in Boston is around 40% of Wichita.

Manchester has a violent crime rate that is around 40% of what it is in Wichita. Property crime rates are about half.

Nashua has a violent crime rate that is around 12% of what it is in Wichita, and about 22% of the property crime rate.

NH is a very safe state. Manchester is rougher than NH is as a whole, but compared to the vast majority of small cities, it's not bad at all.