Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Virginia Beach, VA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
9
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.
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Households earn $31,960 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($128,800 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $619/mo less ($949 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $31,960/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$31,960
$87,544 vs $55,584/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
74% lower
92.3 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$215k less
$128,800 vs $343,700
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Virginia Beach, VA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $343,700⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,568⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,544 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 24 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.8% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 457,900 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Virginia Beach'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, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Virginia Beach wins 14 and Wichita Falls wins 9. 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 Virginia Beach to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($343,700 vs $128,800 median home), income ($87,544 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Virginia Beach, VA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,280 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.