Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Prairie, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie leads 13 of 22 categories
Grand Prairie
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
9
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.
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
37% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Households earn $21,042 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,381/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita Falls
Longer commutes — 28.1 min average each way
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($128,800 vs $242,900)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($949 vs $1,381)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Prairie
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Grand Prairie by $21,042/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Prairie
Median Income
$21,042
$76,626 vs $55,584/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
37% lower
221.2 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$114k less
$128,800 vs $242,900
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Prairie, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,900 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,381⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,626 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.1 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.3% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,279 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.2% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Prairie's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 13 of 22 categories. Grand Prairie wins 13 and Wichita Falls wins 9. 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 Grand Prairie to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,900 vs $128,800 median home), income ($76,626 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Prairie, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.