Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Palmdale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
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.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,830 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Wichita Falls
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($128,800 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $676/mo less ($949 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 27 min shorter each way
36% less violent crime than Palmdale
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $22,830/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Income
$22,830
$78,414 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
36% lower
350.3 vs 551.0 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$269k less
$128,800 vs $397,500
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 97.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 33.0 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Palmdale 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 Palmdale to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $128,800 median home), income ($78,414 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.