Virginia Beach VA vs Wichita Falls TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia · Population: 457,066

  • Median HH Income$90,685
  • Median Home Price$427,121
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+40.4%

Wichita Falls, TX

Texas · Population: 102,558

  • Median HH Income$58,568
  • Median Home Price$174,763
  • Unemployment3.5%
  • Bachelor's+25.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Virginia Beach
457,066
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
102,558
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Virginia Beach
N/A
Wichita Falls
N/A
Median Age
Virginia Beach
37.4
Wichita Falls
33.0
Wichita Falls +
Foreign Born
Virginia Beach
9.1%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
7.2%
White
Virginia Beach
61.6%
Wichita Falls
70.1%
Wichita Falls +
Black
Virginia Beach
18.9%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
12.9%
Asian
Virginia Beach
7.2%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
2.7%
Hispanic
Virginia Beach
8.9%
Wichita Falls
22.4%
Wichita Falls +
Spanish at Home
Virginia Beach
N/A
Wichita Falls
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Virginia Beach
$90,685
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
$58,568
Per Capita Income
Virginia Beach
$47,372
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
$31,987
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Virginia Beach
$69,581
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
Virginia Beach
4.3%
Wichita Falls
3.5%
Wichita Falls +
Poverty Rate
Virginia Beach
8.4%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
17.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Virginia Beach
40.4%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
25.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Virginia Beach
$427,121
Wichita Falls
$174,763
Wichita Falls +
Homeownership Rate
Virginia Beach
64.9%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
57.0%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Virginia Beach
240
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Virginia Beach
1726
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
2339

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Virginia Beach
36.5%
Wichita Falls
35.4%
Wichita Falls +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Virginia Beach
11.8%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
12.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Virginia Beach
16.7%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
18.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Virginia Beach
8.3%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Virginia Beach
15.6%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
17.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Virginia Beach
12.1%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
14.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Virginia Beach
N/A
Wichita Falls
63.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Virginia Beach
N/A
Wichita Falls
28.9 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Virginia Beach
8.2 µg/m³
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Virginia Beach
75.0%
Virginia Beach +
Wichita Falls
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Virginia Beach
25.0 min
Wichita Falls
15.8 min
Wichita Falls +

Which City is Right for You?

Virginia Beach leads in median household income at $90,685, while wichita Falls offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $174,763. On public safety, Virginia Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Wichita Falls. Wichita Falls has a lower unemployment rate at 3.5%, and Virginia Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Wichita Falls scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.4%.

Compare More Cities

About Virginia Beach & Wichita Falls