Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Wichita Falls
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $92,643 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Wichita Falls
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $509k less ($128,800 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1404/mo less ($949 vs $2,353)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $92,643/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$92,643
$148,227 vs $55,584/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
61% lower
138.1 vs 350.3 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$509k less
$128,800 vs $637,400
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 102,482 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 13 and Wichita Falls wins 10. 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 Highlands Ranch to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $128,800 median home), income ($148,227 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Wichita Falls, TX are about 528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.