Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $81,803 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
27% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Wichita Falls
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $705k less ($128,800 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1278/mo less ($949 vs $2,227)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $81,803/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$81,803
$137,387 vs $55,584/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
27% lower
254.4 vs 350.3 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$705k less
$128,800 vs $833,300
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Wichita Falls wins 11. 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 ($833,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($137,387 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.