Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
14
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
26% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,265 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($128,800 vs $224,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Norman
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Norman by $7,265/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Median Income
$7,265
$62,849 vs $55,584/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
26% lower
260.2 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$96k less
$128,800 vs $224,900
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman wins 9 and Wichita Falls wins 14. 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 Norman to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $128,800 median home), income ($62,849 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Wichita Falls, TX are about 114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.