Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Households earn $3,670 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
17% less violent crime than Abilene
Homes cost $33k less ($128,800 vs $161,800)
Rent averages $111/mo less ($949 vs $1,060)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Median income trails Abilene by $3,670/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Median Income
$3,670
$59,254 vs $55,584/yr
Abilene
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 89.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
17% lower
350.3 vs 424.5 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$33k less
$128,800 vs $161,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Wichita Falls wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $128,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.