Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
13
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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $40,147 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($128,800 vs $363,800)
65% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $456/mo less ($949 vs $1,405)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 21°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $40,147/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$40,147
$95,731 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
65% lower
350.3 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$235k less
$128,800 vs $363,800
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
29.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 10 and Wichita Falls wins 13. 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 Anchorage to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $128,800 median home), income ($95,731 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Wichita Falls, TX are about 2,910 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.