Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Wichita Falls, TX
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 21 categories
Wichita Falls
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($128,800 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $363/mo less ($949 vs $1,312)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Worcester by $7,427/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
95% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $7,427 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wichita Falls
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$177k less
$128,800 vs $305,600
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$7,427
$63,011 vs $55,584/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
95% lower
16.5 vs 350.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Wichita Falls, TX | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $128,800 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $949 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,584 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.2% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | WICHITA FALLS ISD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.9" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.1" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,482 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Wichita Falls's cost of living index is 88.9 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 21 categories. Wichita Falls wins 13 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Wichita Falls to Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($128,800 vs $305,600 median home), income ($55,584 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Wichita Falls, TX and Worcester, MA are about 1,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.