Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 17 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
17
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $95/mo less ($949 vs $1,044)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
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
Kansas City
Median Income
$536
$56,120 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
67% lower
350.3 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 17 of 23 categories. Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $128,800 median home), income ($56,120 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Wichita Falls, TX are about 417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.