Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
14
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Households earn $2,765 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita Falls
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than Baltimore
Homes cost $74k less ($128,800 vs $202,900)
Rent averages $286/mo less ($949 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Baltimore by $2,765/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$2,765
$58,349 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
78% lower
350.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$74k less
$128,800 vs $202,900
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 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 14 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 9 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 Baltimore to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $128,800 median home), income ($58,349 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,268 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.