Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
12
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.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $5,044 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
49% less violent crime than Amarillo
Homes cost $44k less ($128,800 vs $172,700)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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 3.5%)
Median income trails Amarillo by $5,044/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Median Income
$5,044
$60,628 vs $55,584/yr
Amarillo
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
49% lower
350.3 vs 690.5 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$44k less
$128,800 vs $172,700
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and Wichita Falls wins 12. 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 Amarillo to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $128,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.