Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $78,555 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Wichita Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $942k less ($128,800 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1528/mo less ($949 vs $2,477)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $78,555/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$78,555
$134,139 vs $55,584/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
43% lower
199.1 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$942k less
$128,800 vs $1,070,500
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Wichita Falls wins 7. 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 Carlsbad to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $128,800 median home), income ($134,139 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,080 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.