Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
10
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.
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $38,778 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($128,800 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $776/mo less ($949 vs $1,725)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $38,778/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Median Income
$38,778
$94,362 vs $55,584/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
58% lower
146.7 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$251k less
$128,800 vs $379,800
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 13 and Wichita Falls wins 10. 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 Richardson to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $128,800 median home), income ($94,362 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.