Atlanta, GA vs Houston, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AtlantaAtlanta, GA | HoustonHouston, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
100/100 for healthcare access in Atlanta, GA versus 71/100 in Houston, TX puts the two cities 29 points apart in the 90th and 33rd percentiles, respectively, under 2024 data. That gap is one of the widest in this 2023–2025 comparison, which also shows Atlanta’s median home value at $420,600 against Houston’s $253,400, a 66% difference. Unemployment stands at 3.5% in Atlanta and 4.5% in Houston, a 1.0-point spread, while work-from-home rates diverge sharply at 26.6% versus 11.7%, placing Atlanta in the 93rd percentile and Houston in the 56th.
Distance to the international border stretches 646 miles from Atlanta compared to 290 miles from Houston, a 2.2× gap, and the coastline sits 222 miles from Atlanta versus just 20 miles from Houston, an 11.0× difference. Average household size runs 2 in Atlanta and 2.5 in Houston, a 23% larger figure for the latter. Crime figures from 2025 show violent crime at 723 per 100,000 in Atlanta and 886 per 100,000 in Houston, a 23% higher rate in Houston, with property crime at 3,075 versus 3,815 per 100,000, a 24% difference. Both cities carry F grades for national disaster risk and crime and safety, while Houston’s tap water grades B+ against Atlanta’s F.
Population totals 499,287 in Atlanta and 2,300,419 in Houston, a 4.6× larger figure, though density runs nearly equal at 3,690 and 3,590 per square mile. Bachelor’s degree attainment reaches 58.4% in Atlanta versus 36.0% in Houston, a 22.4-point spread placing Atlanta in the 87th percentile. Median age is essentially the same at 34 and 34.3, and job growth over the past year sits at +1.1% and +1.0%.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 14375th pctl | 10451st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Atlanta, GA 143; Houston, TX 104; Atlanta is 38% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $420,60074th pctl | $253,40044th pctl | Median home value: Atlanta, GA $420,600; Houston, TX $253,400; Atlanta is 66% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,61775th pctl | $1,31358th pctl | Median rent: Atlanta, GA $1,617; Houston, TX $1,313; Atlanta is 23% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $81,93862nd pctl | $62,89434th pctl | Median household income: Atlanta, GA $81,938; Houston, TX $62,894; Atlanta is 30% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $81,71575th pctl | $99,87085th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Atlanta, GA $81,715; Houston, TX $99,870; Houston is 22% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $120,12175th pctl | $146,80985th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Atlanta, GA $120,121; Houston, TX $146,809; Houston is 22% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Atlanta, GA C+; Houston, TX B+; Houston is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Houston needs about
$54,500
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 143 vs 104). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 4.5%83rd pctl | Unemployment: Atlanta, GA 3.5%; Houston, TX 4.5%; Houston is 1.0 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.1%50th pctl | +1.0%46th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $64,06389th pctl | $41,14260th pctl | Per-capita income: Atlanta, GA $64,063; Houston, TX $41,142; Atlanta is 56% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 17.9%76th pctl | 19.7%81st pctl | Poverty rate: Atlanta, GA 17.9%; Houston, TX 19.7%; Houston is 1.8 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 26.8 min73rd pctl | 27.3 min76th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 26.6%93rd pctl | 11.7%56th pctl | Work from home: Atlanta, GA 26.6%; Houston, TX 11.7%; Atlanta is 14.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 72394th pctl | 88697th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Atlanta, GA 723; Houston, TX 886; Houston is 23% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07592nd pctl | 3,81596th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Atlanta, GA 3,075; Houston, TX 3,815; Houston is 24% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Atlanta, GA A+; Houston, TX B+; Atlanta is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Poor | Clean | Tap water: Atlanta, GA F; Houston, TX B+; Houston is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Houston, TX; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Atlanta, GA 0 mi; Houston, TX 0 mi; Atlanta is higher (Houston: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Atlanta, GA D+; Houston, TX F; Atlanta is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 646 mi86th pctl | 290 mi43rd pctl | Distance to international border: Atlanta, GA 646 mi; Houston, TX 290 mi; Atlanta is 2.2 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 222 mi45th pctl | 20 mi15th pctl | Distance to coastline: Atlanta, GA 222 mi; Houston, TX 20 mi; Atlanta is 11.0 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | Strategic location: Atlanta, GA D-; Houston, TX F; Atlanta is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 499,28799th pctl | 2,300,419100th pctl | Population: Atlanta, GA 499,287; Houston, TX 2,300,419; Houston is 4.6 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,69085th pctl | 3,59084th pctl | About the same |
| Median age | 3419th pctl | 34.321st pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.4%87th pctl | 36.0%59th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Atlanta, GA 58.4%; Houston, TX 36.0%; Atlanta is 22.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 26th pctl | 2.554th pctl | Average household size: Atlanta, GA 2; Houston, TX 2.5; Houston is 23% larger. |
More about Atlanta's residents · Houston's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Atlanta and Houston
- Median rent: $1,617 in Atlanta, $1,313 in Houston
- Median home value: $420,600 in Atlanta, $253,400 in Houston
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 143 in Atlanta, 104 in Houston
- Median household income: $81,938 in Atlanta, $62,894 in Houston
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $120,121 in Atlanta, $146,809 in Houston
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Atlanta, 4.5% in Houston
- Average commute: 26.8 min in Atlanta, 27.3 min in Houston
- Violent crime per 100k: 723 in Atlanta, 886 in Houston
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More places like Atlanta and Houston
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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