Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,397 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Wichita Falls
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $831k less ($128,800 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1319/mo less ($949 vs $2,268)
53% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $49,397/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$49,397
$104,981 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.3 vs 737.6 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$831k less
$128,800 vs $959,800
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
18.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ 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 | 18.9:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 10 and Wichita Falls wins 13. 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 Costa Mesa to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $128,800 median home), income ($104,981 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.