Living in Wichita Falls, TX
Wichita Falls is the 329th-largest city in the US, home to about 102,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run well below the national average (89.5 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 101,951-0.3% since 2020
- Median home value
- $156,8002.6 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,022/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $60,177median, per year
- Price level
- 89.5US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 55° / 97°lows 30° / 72°
- Average commute
- 14 min7% work from home
- State income tax
- Noneon wages
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County: Wichita County
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Elevation: about 948 ft
Metro area: Wichita Falls, TX
Cost of living in Wichita Falls
The median home in Wichita Falls is worth $156,800 and the median household earns $60,177 a year, so a typical home costs about 2.6 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,022 a month, about 20% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Wichita Falls, TX metro area at 89.5, with housing at 68.2 and goods at 93.8 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $67,100 here. Texas has no state income tax on wages. The average combined state and local sales tax in Texas is 8.2%.
What would my salary be worth in Wichita Falls?
Wichita Falls weather
Average highs run from 55°F in January to 97°F in July, and January nights average 30°F. It gets 28 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 3 inches of snow. Expect about 105 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are April to May and October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Wichita Falls
People and work
The median resident is 33.8 years old, and 25% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 56% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 14 minutes; 7% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 33.8121st youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 25%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 56%of households
- People per sq mile
- 1,41272.2 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 0%8% walk, 0.3% bike
- Unemployment
- 3.8%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 17.7%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1972median year
Who moves to Wichita Falls, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Fort Worth (Tarrant County), Dallas (Dallas County) and Denton (Denton County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Fort Worth (Tarrant County), Dallas (Dallas County) and Denton (Denton County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA rating for Wichita County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: tornado, hail, drought, ice storm.
Home prices
+0.8% in a year
Up 34% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Wichita Falls, TX area, 2026 Q2.
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Wichita Falls
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Midwestern State University 2 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Wichita Falls
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheppard AFB/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport SPS | 6 mi | 29,702 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Wichita Falls
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwestern State University | 2 mi | 4,087 | $11,793 | 42% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Wichita Falls
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before March 26, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around November 1 and the first frost comes around November 9.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, TX, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Wichita Falls.
Wildfire smoke in Wichita Falls
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Wichita Falls on about 141 days a year, including about 19 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Wichita Falls
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 38,169 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Wichita Falls
Downtown Wichita Falls is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita Falls Independent School District | Pre-K to 12 | 12,644 | 24 | 15.1 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Burkburnett Independent School District (3,213 students), Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District (1,904 students), City View Independent School District (1,152 students), Holliday Independent School District (1,120 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Wichita Falls's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Wichita Falls's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- El Paso, TX72% matchCompare
- Fort Smith, AR72% matchCompare
- Macon, GA72% matchCompare
- Augusta, GA70% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Wichita Falls
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Pros and cons of living in Wichita Falls
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 2.6 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 10% below the US average (BEA).
- Data Texas has no state income tax on wages.
- Data Commutes are short: 14 minutes each way on average.
Cons
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 105 days a year reach 90°F.
Wichita Falls report card from locals
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Wichita Falls through locals' eyes
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Cities near Wichita Falls
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton, OK | 50 mi | 90,503 | $142,100 | 85.9 | Compare |
| Denton, TX | 93 mi | 169,431 | $348,200 | 103.1 | Compare |
| Flower Mound, TX | 100 mi | 79,540 | $560,200 | 103.1 | Compare |
| Lewisville, TX | 105 mi | 139,006 | $378,500 | 103.1 | Compare |
| Fort Worth, TX | 105 mi | 1,028,117 | $303,000 | 103.1 | Compare |
| Frisco, TX | 110 mi | 236,955 | $642,100 | 103.1 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Wichita Falls with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Wichita Falls a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, no state income tax on wages, short commutes; the trade-offs are 105 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Compare Wichita Falls side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Wichita Falls?
The Census Bureau estimates Wichita Falls had 101,951 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 102,283 in April 2020 (-0.3%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Wichita Falls?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,100 in the Wichita Falls area. The median household here earns $60,177.
When is the best time to visit Wichita Falls?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, April to May and October are the most comfortable months. July averages 97°F and January 55°F for daytime highs.
What county is Wichita Falls in?
Wichita Falls is in Wichita County, Texas. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Wichita Falls in?
Wichita Falls is on Central Time (UTC-6, or UTC-5 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Wichita Falls?
About 948 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax wage income.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Wichita Falls. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Wichita Falls, TX metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, TX station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.