Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ 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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $16,152 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita Falls
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($128,800 vs $251,300)
27% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $348/mo less ($949 vs $1,297)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $16,152/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$16,152
$71,736 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
27% lower
350.3 vs 482.9 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$123k less
$128,800 vs $251,300
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington 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 Arlington to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.