Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Wichita Falls
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
23% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Wichita Falls
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $31k less ($128,800 vs $159,600)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 88.9 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
23% lower
269.6 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$1,445
$55,584 vs $54,139/yr
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$31k less
$128,800 vs $159,600
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 88.9 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $949 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 102,482 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories. Edinburg 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 Edinburg to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $128,800 median home), income ($54,139 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.