Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vancouver, WA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Vancouver
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
15
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.
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $18,042 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($128,800 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $576/mo less ($949 vs $1,525)
40% less violent crime than Vancouver
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $18,042/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Vancouver
Median Income
$18,042
$73,626 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
40% lower
350.3 vs 582.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$275k less
$128,800 vs $403,400
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 80.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vancouver, WA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $403,400⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,525⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,626 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 162⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evergreen School District (Clark) | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.9°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.2" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,700 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vancouver's cost of living index is 106.6 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 15 of 23 categories. Vancouver wins 8 and Wichita Falls wins 15. 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 Vancouver to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($403,400 vs $128,800 median home), income ($73,626 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vancouver, WA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.