Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 16 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
16
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Beaumont
Homes cost $22k less ($128,800 vs $150,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 90.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$1,839
$55,584 vs $53,745/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
69% lower
350.3 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$22k less
$128,800 vs $150,400
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 16 of 23 categories. Beaumont wins 7 and Wichita Falls wins 16. 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 Beaumont to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $128,800 median home), income ($53,745 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.