Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clarita, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories
Santa Clarita
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
9
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.
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,602 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Wichita Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $540k less ($128,800 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1366/mo less ($949 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $60,602/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$60,602
$116,186 vs $55,584/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
53% lower
165.4 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$540k less
$128,800 vs $669,200
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 94.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clarita, 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 | $669,200⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,315⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,186 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.2 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.7% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saugus Union | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.5" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,850 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.1% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clarita'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, Santa Clarita leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Clarita wins 14 and Wichita Falls wins 9. 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 Santa Clarita to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($669,200 vs $128,800 median home), income ($116,186 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clarita, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.