Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
12
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.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $16,438 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($128,800 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $523/mo less ($949 vs $1,472)
26% less violent crime than Tempe
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $16,438/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Median Income
$16,438
$72,022 vs $55,584/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 97.2°F
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
26% lower
350.3 vs 470.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$253k less
$128,800 vs $382,100
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 97.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 11 and Wichita Falls wins 12. 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 Tempe to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $128,800 median home), income ($72,022 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Wichita Falls, TX are about 771 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.