Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Wichita Falls
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $32,174 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($128,800 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $427/mo less ($949 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $32,174/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Median Income
$32,174
$87,758 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
6% lower
350.3 vs 371.0 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$186k less
$128,800 vs $314,400
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 102,482 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 12 and Wichita Falls wins 11. 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 Suffolk to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $128,800 median home), income ($87,758 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.