Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ 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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita Falls by $13,120/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $13,120 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 7 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
4% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$13,120
$55,584 vs $42,464/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
72% lower
350.3 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $128,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham 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 Birmingham to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $128,800 median home), income ($42,464 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Wichita Falls, TX are about 674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.