Why Wichita Falls Is Texas’s Best Bang-for-Your-Buck City

If you’re all about getting the best value for your money, Wichita Falls, Texas, is a great place to put down roots. 

I grew up in Vernon, which is about 50 miles (or about 1 hour as we Texans like to measure distance) from Wichita Falls. Vernon is one of the many small towns that surround Wichita Falls, the largest city between Amarillo and Fort Worth. 

So, Wichita Falls has always served as a hub for this part of Texas. When I was a kid back in the 80s, I always loved to come here because there was so much more to do than in Vernon. The movie theater was awesome, Aladdin’s Castle was the coolest arcade around, and I could get lost in the record stores for hours.

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Sure, a lot has changed since then, but I still dig it here. After spending several years living in the big city, I knew life there wasn’t for me. It’s just too crowded. But I also knew I didn’t want to live in a small town again, so I eventually found my way to Wichita Falls, which is a happy medium. 

Honestly, when I moved here, I never really considered whether I was getting the best bang for my buck. I was mostly looking for more opportunities than a small town had to offer, without the headaches of the big city. 

But if that’s something that is of the utmost importance to you, a new survey by Advance America found Wichita Falls to be the Texas city in which you get the most bang for your buck. Here’s what they had to say: 

What Wichita Falls lacks in flash, it more than makes up for in friendliness, affordability, and opportunity. With a median home price of just $160,000 and a cost of living well below the national average, it’s one of Texas’s best-kept secrets. Locals enjoy hiking at Lake Wichita Park, quirky art festivals, and a tight-knit, community-first culture that’s hard to find in bigger metros.

It’s nice to hear kind words about Wichita Falls from outsiders. People are quick to complain about this town, but not me. As they said, it’s not too flashy, but I like living here just fine.