Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 14 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Wichita Falls by $7,786/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($128,800 vs $242,300)
14% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Households earn $7,786 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $96/mo less ($949 vs $1,045)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$7,786
$55,584 vs $47,798/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
14% lower
350.3 vs 406.1 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$114k less
$128,800 vs $242,300
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 14 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Wichita Falls wins 14. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 868 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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