Upward Mobility
What is Economic Mobility in Wichita?
Upward Mobility
Key Metric
Growth of Household Income
1%
Wichita has made modest gains among cities, from 41st to 40th out of 100 largest MSAs for economic mobility
Economic mobility is shaped by a complex interplay of economic, social, and demographic factors that influence long-term financial stability and opportunity. Household income growth, while a key indicator, does not exist in isolation—it reflects broader employment trends like access to well-paying jobs, and economic resilience. Social factors contribute to economic stability, as married households often have higher combined incomes and financial support systems. Meanwhile, teen birth rates can signal economic and educational challenges that may limit future earnings potential for young parents. Mobility across different income levels further reveals disparities in opportunity, with lower-income households often facing systemic barriers to financial progress. These interconnected trends highlight how economic policies, education access, and social support structures collectively shape mobility outcomes. A thriving economy along with meaningful connections across socio economic lines have also been identified as key factors to promote upward mobility.
By The Numbers
Helpful insight into some of the factors that affect the key metric and have an impact on this reality. Select an area on the map to view neighborhood-level stats.
Employment Rate
Employment/Population Ratio amongst population 16 and over
Marriage Rate
Teen Birth Rate
Rate per 1,000 Women Aged 15-19
Mobility at Different Household Income Levels
Bottom 20%
20-40%
40-60%
60-80%
80-100%
Top 5%
Stories and Local Context
Listen to and learn from the stories of people, churches and/or organizations experiencing or engaging this reality first hand.
Get Involved
Links to Books, Resources, Organizations and/or Opportunities that are engaging this topic well.
Do you desire a safe and practical way to come alongside people in our community who want to break free from generational poverty? HopeNet is offering the Getting Ahead Workshop for a limited group of people and needs volunteers from area churches who want to bridge the gap between those in poverty and the church. This workshop gives participants the tools they need to Get Ahead out of poverty. We need meal providers, hostesses and childcare volunteers to make this workshop a success.
Drive & Thrive and its ecosystem of partners are committed to helping individuals and families meet one of their most basic needs – reliable transportation. Having dependable transportation isn’t just about having a vehicle, it’s about making progress in quality of life by gaining better access to basic human needs like education, housing, and employment. Drive & Thrive and its partners are proud to help people earn vehicles through education and empowerment.
We want to hear from you! The Kansas Health Foundation is seeking innovative ideas
to improve Upward Mobility. We want every Kansan to have the opportunity to succeed
and thrive, regardless of their starting point in life.