Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Cary leads 13 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
10
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $69,733 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($128,800 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $589/mo less ($949 vs $1,538)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $69,733/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$69,733
$125,317 vs $55,584/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
80% lower
71.0 vs 350.3 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$349k less
$128,800 vs $477,400
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 13 of 23 categories. Cary wins 13 and Wichita Falls wins 10. 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 Cary to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $128,800 median home), income ($125,317 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.