Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Wichita Falls
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,442 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wichita Falls
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $400k less ($128,800 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $436/mo less ($949 vs $1,385)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $8,442/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$8,442
$64,026 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$400k less
$128,800 vs $528,600
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 102,482 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Wichita Falls wins 15. 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 Bellingham to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $128,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.