Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ 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.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,243 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Wichita Falls
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($128,800 vs $320,600)
37% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Rent averages $334/mo less ($949 vs $1,283)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Cons
Median income trails Bakersfield by $18,243/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$18,243
$73,827 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
37% lower
350.3 vs 554.6 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$192k less
$128,800 vs $320,600
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 97.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories. Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $128,800 median home), income ($73,827 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.