Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 19 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
19
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Wichita Falls
Median income trails Wichita Falls by $9,124/yr
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($128,800 vs $312,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (4.4%)
40% less violent crime than Newark
Rent averages $324/mo less ($949 vs $1,273)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$9,124
$55,584 vs $46,460/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
40% lower
350.3 vs 581.2 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$184k less
$128,800 vs $312,300
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 19 of 23 categories. Newark wins 4 and Wichita Falls wins 19. 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 Newark to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($46,460 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.