Midland vs Visalia
The short version
- Midland is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Visalia area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $319,200 in Midland and $371,500 in Visalia.
- Households earn more in Midland ($89,585 vs $81,989 median).
- Midland has more scorching days: 115 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 95.
- Midland is growing faster: +11.1% since 2020 vs +3.5%.
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; California's top rate is 13.3%.
Side by side
| Midland, TX | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 147,615 | 146,541 |
| Growth since 2020 | +11.1% | +3.5% |
| People per square mile | 1,938 | 3,806 |
| Median age | 31.5 | 33.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34% | 24% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $89,585 | $81,989 |
| Median home value | $319,200 | $371,500 |
| Home value to income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,434 | $1,490 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 95.8 | 99.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 101.5 | 84.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $71,800 | $74,900 |
| Homeowners | 65% | 61% |
| Top state income tax | None | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.2% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 20.1 | 22.9 |
| Work from home | 6% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 3.5% | 6.9% |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 11.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 59° / 33° | 55° / 38° |
| July high / low | 96° / 73° | 94° / 67° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 10 in |
| Snowfall per year | 4 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 115 | 95 |
| Nights below freezing | 58 | 9 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 5 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 81.2 | 97.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | 24% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.1% | +0.6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +27.5% | +39% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Midland: March to April and October. Visalia: March to May and October to November.
Full monthly tables: Midland weather by month and Visalia weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $71,800 in Midland and $74,900 in Visalia. Moving from Midland to Visalia, you would need about $78,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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