Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Simi Valley, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 22 categories
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
7
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.
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,560 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Wichita Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $575k less ($128,800 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1453/mo less ($949 vs $2,402)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $56,560/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Median Income
$56,560
$112,144 vs $55,584/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
63% lower
129.1 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$575k less
$128,800 vs $704,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Simi Valley, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $704,200⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,402⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,144 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.0% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Simi Valley Unified | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,153 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.8% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Simi Valley's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 22 categories. Simi Valley wins 15 and Wichita Falls wins 7. 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 Simi Valley to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($704,200 vs $128,800 median home), income ($112,144 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Simi Valley, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.