Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Miami
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
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.
Miami, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 55°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($128,800 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($949 vs $1,494)
26% less violent crime than Miami
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$726
$55,584 vs $54,858/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
26% lower
350.3 vs 473.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$305k less
$128,800 vs $433,900
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 87.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Miami wins 8 and Wichita Falls wins 15. 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 Miami to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $128,800 median home), income ($54,858 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.