Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
11
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,273 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $417k less ($128,800 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1098/mo less ($949 vs $2,047)
30% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $43,273/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$43,273
$98,857 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
30% lower
350.3 vs 498.0 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$417k less
$128,800 vs $546,200
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 12 and Wichita Falls wins 11. 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 Fairfield to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $128,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.