Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stockton, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 16 of 23 categories
Stockton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,028 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($128,800 vs $382,000)
69% less violent crime than Stockton
Rent averages $468/mo less ($949 vs $1,417)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.4%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $16,028/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Stockton
Median Income
$16,028
$71,612 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
69% lower
350.3 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$253k less
$128,800 vs $382,000
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stockton, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,000⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,612 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 231⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stockton Unified | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.7°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 320,030 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stockton's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 16 of 23 categories. Stockton wins 7 and Wichita Falls wins 16. 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 Stockton to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,000 vs $128,800 median home), income ($71,612 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stockton, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.