Denton vs Wichita Falls
Denton, Texas versus Wichita Falls, Texas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Denton and Wichita Falls score about the same overall (49 vs 49 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Denton | Wichita Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $56k |
| Cost of Living | $60k | $44k |
| Home Value | $296k | $129k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $949 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.74% | 1.82% |
| Income Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.20% | 8.20% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.87% | 6.93% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 45°F | 42°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 85°F | 85°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4 in | 27.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1 in | 3.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 278 days | 262 days |
| Summer Humidity | 68°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 69 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 59.9 | 25.4 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 73.5 | 54.8 |
| Violent Crime | 1631/100k | 2453/100k |
| Property Crime | 2485/100k | 2824/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 32.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.51 | 0.45 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 1.10 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+42 |
| White (%) | 56.9% | 58.9% |
| Black (%) | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 24.1% | 22.3% |
| Asian (%) | 3.5% | 2.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 4.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 25 min | 14 min |
| Walkability | 14.1/20 | 9.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 24 mi | 110 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.7% | 85.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.78 | 12.00 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Denton or Wichita Falls more affordable?
- Wichita Falls has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Denton's $60k and Wichita Falls's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Denton versus $949 in Wichita Falls.
- Is Denton or Wichita Falls safer?
- Denton has the lower violent crime rate. Denton reports 1631/100k and Wichita Falls reports 2453/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Denton or Wichita Falls?
- The median home value is $296k in Denton and $129k in Wichita Falls, so homes are more affordable in Wichita Falls.