Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ 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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,022 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($128,800 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($949 vs $1,227)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Richmond by $4,022/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$4,022
$59,606 vs $55,584/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
4% lower
336.9 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$180k less
$128,800 vs $308,300
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 89.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($59,606 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.