Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
13
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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $23,393 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($128,800 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $627/mo less ($949 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $23,393/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$23,393
$78,977 vs $55,584/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.7 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$369k less
$128,800 vs $497,400
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $128,800 median home), income ($78,977 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Wichita Falls, TX are about 583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.