Pittsburgh Wichita Falls

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Pittsburgh to Wichita Falls is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 94.7 to 89.5 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $163/mo.

-$8,711
BLS median salary lower in Wichita Falls
250 to 395
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
13.6:1 to 14.7:1
NCES student-teacher ratio

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 94.7 → 89.5
Rent Delta: -$163/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 5% lower cost of living
  • + $163/mo cheaper rent (2BR)

Cons of Moving

  • - $9K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 94.7 to 89.5, so each dollar covers more in Wichita Falls (ratio 0.95). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $163/mo ($1,956/yr) from $1,299 in Pittsburgh to $1,136 in Wichita Falls.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (2 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Wichita Falls sits #228 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Pittsburgh is #209/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $8,711 lower ($65,551 → $56,840). Labor-market size: 1,098,020 tracked jobs at origin vs 49,490 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Pennsylvania 65 (C, #18/51) vs Texas 65 (C, #19/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Pittsburgh
Wichita Falls
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 94.7
RPP 89.5
Wichita Falls
Rent (2BR)
$1,299/mo
$1,136/mo
Wichita Falls
Wages
$65,551
$56,840
Pittsburgh
Crime
250 per 100K
395 per 100K
Pittsburgh
Schools
13.6:1
14.7:1
Pittsburgh
Childcare
N/A
$7,566/yr
Tie
Environment
5292 violations
35693 violations
Pittsburgh

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Pennsylvania
65 C #18/51
Income tax
95
Property tax
58
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
72
Destination state · Texas
65 C #19/51
Income tax
100
Property tax
55
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
44

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Pittsburgh to see what you'd need to earn in Wichita Falls to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Wichita Falls
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026