Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Wichita Falls
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Households earn $42,295 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wichita Falls
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($128,800 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $912/mo less ($949 vs $1,861)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $42,295/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$42,295
$97,879 vs $55,584/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
76% lower
85.0 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$363k less
$128,800 vs $491,800
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 102,482 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $128,800 median home), income ($97,879 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.