Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
8
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
21% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $31k less ($128,800 vs $159,300)
Commutes run 9 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
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Violent Crime
21% lower
278.4 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 90.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$31k less
$128,800 vs $159,300
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Wichita Falls wins 8. 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 El Paso to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($55,710 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.