Austin, TX vs Houston, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AustinAustin, TX | HoustonHouston, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 3.5% unemployment, Austin, TX and Houston, TX show a 1.0-point gap in joblessness, with Houston’s 4.5% rate falling in the 83rd percentile versus Austin’s 43rd percentile in 2023 Census figures. The cost of living index (100 = US) sits at 158 in Austin versus 104 in Houston, a 52% difference, while median home values run $512,700 against $253,400. Median household income reaches $91,461 in Austin compared to $62,894 in Houston, and 27.5% of Austin workers telecommute versus 11.7% in Houston, a 15.8-point spread.
Houston’s population of 2,300,419 is 2.4× larger than Austin’s 967,862, and average household size is 2.5 versus 2.1, a 15% difference. Healthcare access scores place Austin at 92/100 and Houston at 71/100, a 21-point gap, with Austin in the 65th percentile and Houston in the 33rd. Violent crime per 100,000 people runs 418 in Austin versus 886 in Houston, a 2.1× difference, while property crime is 3,077 against 3,815, 24% higher in Houston. Traffic deaths per 100,000 are 22 in Austin and 19 in Houston, 16% higher in the former.
Air quality index values are 52 in Austin and 61 in Houston, 17% higher in the latter, with both cities in the 85th and 96th percentiles respectively. Median rent is $1,655 in Austin versus $1,313 in Houston, 26% higher, and per-capita income is $59,427 against $41,142, a 44% gap. Distance to the coastline is 155 miles from Austin and 20 miles from Houston, a 7.7× difference, while the distance to the international border is 196 miles versus 290 miles, 48% higher for Houston.
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 | Austin, TX | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 10451st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Austin, TX 158; Houston, TX 104; Austin is 52% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $512,70083rd pctl | $253,40044th pctl | Median home value: Austin, TX $512,700; Houston, TX $253,400; Austin is 2.0 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65578th pctl | $1,31358th pctl | Median rent: Austin, TX $1,655; Houston, TX $1,313; Austin is 26% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,46171st pctl | $62,89434th pctl | Median household income: Austin, TX $91,461; Houston, TX $62,894; Austin is 45% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,60985th pctl | $99,87085th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,42585th pctl | $146,80985th pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Austin, TX C-; Houston, TX B+; Houston is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Houston needs about
$49,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 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 | Austin, TX | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 4.5%83rd pctl | Unemployment: Austin, TX 3.5%; Houston, TX 4.5%; Houston is 1.0 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.1%19th pctl | +1.0%46th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Austin, TX -0.1%; Houston, TX +1.0%; Houston is 1.1 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $59,42787th pctl | $41,14260th pctl | Per-capita income: Austin, TX $59,427; Houston, TX $41,142; Austin is 44% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.3%54th pctl | 19.7%81st pctl | Poverty rate: Austin, TX 12.3%; Houston, TX 19.7%; Houston is 7.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24 min54th pctl | 27.3 min76th pctl | Average commute: Austin, TX 24 min; Houston, TX 27.3 min; Houston is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.5%94th pctl | 11.7%56th pctl | Work from home: Austin, TX 27.5%; Houston, TX 11.7%; Austin is 15.8 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | Economic opportunity: Austin, TX B-; Houston, TX C-; Austin is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Austin, TX | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 41880th pctl | 88697th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Austin, TX 418; Houston, TX 886; Houston is 2.1 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07792nd pctl | 3,81596th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Austin, TX 3,077; 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 | FairCounty 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 | Austin, TX | 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: Austin, TX A+; Houston, TX B+; Austin is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Austin, TX C-; 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 | Homesteading potential: Austin, TX A+; Houston, TX A-; Austin is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, 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
Both are in Texas, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Texas →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Austin, TX | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Austin, TX 2 mi; Houston, TX 0 mi; Austin is higher (Houston: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 196 mi22nd pctl | 290 mi43rd pctl | Distance to international border: Austin, TX 196 mi; Houston, TX 290 mi; Houston is 48% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 155 mi37th pctl | 20 mi15th pctl | Distance to coastline: Austin, TX 155 mi; Houston, TX 20 mi; Austin is 7.7 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Austin, TX | Houston, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 967,862100th pctl | 2,300,419100th pctl | Population: Austin, TX 967,862; Houston, TX 2,300,419; Houston is 2.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,97877th pctl | 3,59084th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Austin, TX 2,978; Houston, TX 3,590; Houston is 21% higher. |
| Median age | 34.522nd pctl | 34.321st pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2%87th pctl | 36.0%59th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Austin, TX 58.2%; Houston, TX 36.0%; Austin is 22.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 2.554th pctl | Average household size: Austin, TX 2.1; Houston, TX 2.5; Houston is 15% larger. |
More about Austin'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 Austin and Houston
- Median rent: $1,655 in Austin, $1,313 in Houston
- Median home value: $512,700 in Austin, $253,400 in Houston
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Austin, 104 in Houston
- Median household income: $91,461 in Austin, $62,894 in Houston
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,425 in Austin, $146,809 in Houston
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Austin, 4.5% in Houston
- Average commute: 24 min in Austin, 27.3 min in Houston
- Violent crime per 100k: 418 in Austin, 886 in Houston
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- 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: 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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