Wichita Falls, TX
Census place 4879000 · pop 102,581
Home of the 'World's Littlest Skyscraper,' an early-1900s investment swindle, and the grueling Hotter'N Hell Hundred bike ride.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
16.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-1.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
17.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$60,177 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
56.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
27.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
25.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
35.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
82/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$156,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,245/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
14 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Wichita Falls: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Wichita Falls, TX a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Wichita Falls scores 49/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is uninsured adults. Texas overall ranks #38 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Wichita Falls, TX expensive to live in?
- Wichita Falls has a median home value of $156,800 and typical rent around $1,245/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Wichita Falls, TX?
- Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (16.9%) — 12/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Wichita Falls, TX best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (14 min) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of the 'World's Littlest Skyscraper,' an early-1900s investment swindle, and the grueling Hotter'N Hell Hundred bike ride.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.