Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 17 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
47% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $30k less ($128,800 vs $158,500)
Rent averages $168/mo less ($949 vs $1,117)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$2,160
$55,584 vs $53,424/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
47% lower
350.3 vs 660.2 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$30k less
$128,800 vs $158,500
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 17 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 6 and Wichita Falls wins 17. 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 Fayetteville to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $128,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.