Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
12
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.
Madison, WI
Pros
27% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Households earn $19,311 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($128,800 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($949 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 28°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $19,311/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$19,311
$74,895 vs $55,584/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
27% lower
256.0 vs 350.3 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$198k less
$128,800 vs $326,600
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Madison wins 11 and Wichita Falls wins 12. 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 Madison to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $128,800 median home), income ($74,895 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Wichita Falls, TX are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.