Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Wichita Falls
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($128,800 vs $213,300)
53% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Rent averages $276/mo less ($949 vs $1,225)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Median Income
$1,570
$57,154 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.3 vs 752.4 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$85k less
$128,800 vs $213,300
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 102,482 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($57,154 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.