Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
9
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,311 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 97°F
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $39k less ($128,800 vs $167,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 28°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $11,311/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$11,311
$66,895 vs $55,584/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
25% lower
261.5 vs 350.3 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$39k less
$128,800 vs $167,900
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $949 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 14 and Wichita Falls wins 9. 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 Cedar Rapids to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $128,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.