Austin, TX vs Los Angeles, CA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AustinAustin, TX | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Good | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | Moderate | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 3.5% unemployment, Austin, TX and Los Angeles, CA show a 2.3-point gap in 2023 Census figures, with Los Angeles at 5.8% in the 97th percentile. The two cities also diverge sharply on job growth over the past year: Austin’s -0.1% sits in the 19th percentile, while Los Angeles posted +1.2% in the 55th percentile. Average commutes differ by 7 minutes, with Austin at 24 min and Los Angeles at 31.1 min, the latter ranking in the 89th percentile.
Cost pressures run higher in Los Angeles across the board. Its cost of living index of 222 stands 41% higher than Austin’s 158, and the median home value of $879,500 is 72% above Austin’s $512,700. The state and local tax burden in Los Angeles reaches 13.5% in the 92nd percentile, versus 8.6% in Austin’s 10th percentile. Median household income runs the other way: Austin’s $91,461 is 14% higher than Los Angeles’s $80,366.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 22 in Austin versus 12 in Los Angeles, an 82% gap, with Austin in the 65th percentile and Los Angeles in the 33rd. Distance to coastline also separates them: Austin sits 155 mi inland, 13.2× farther than Los Angeles’s 12 mi. Average household size is 2.1 in Austin and 2.6 in Los Angeles, a 23% difference, placing the latter in the 72nd percentile. Violent crime per 100,000 people runs 60% higher in Los Angeles at 668, while property crime is 37% higher in Austin at 3,077.
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 | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 22293rd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Austin, TX 158; Los Angeles, CA 222; Los Angeles is 41% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $512,70083rd pctl | $879,50094th pctl | Median home value: Austin, TX $512,700; Los Angeles, CA $879,500; Los Angeles is 72% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65578th pctl | $1,87988th pctl | Median rent: Austin, TX $1,655; Los Angeles, CA $1,879; Los Angeles is 14% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,46171st pctl | $80,36659th pctl | Median household income: Austin, TX $91,461; Los Angeles, CA $80,366; Austin is 14% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,60985th pctl | $127,16192nd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Austin, TX $99,609; Los Angeles, CA $127,161; Los Angeles is 28% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,42585th pctl | $186,92692nd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Austin, TX $146,425; Los Angeles, CA $186,926; Los Angeles is 28% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Austin, TX C-; Los Angeles, CA F; Austin is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Los Angeles needs about
$105,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 vs 222). 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 | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 5.8%97th pctl | Unemployment: Austin, TX 3.5%; Los Angeles, CA 5.8%; Los Angeles is 2.3 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.1%19th pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Austin, TX -0.1%; Los Angeles, CA +1.2%; Los Angeles is 1.3 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $59,42787th pctl | $46,27071st pctl | Per-capita income: Austin, TX $59,427; Los Angeles, CA $46,270; Austin is 28% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.3%54th pctl | 16.5%72nd pctl | Poverty rate: Austin, TX 12.3%; Los Angeles, CA 16.5%; Los Angeles is 4.2 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24 min54th pctl | 31.1 min89th pctl | Average commute: Austin, TX 24 min; Los Angeles, CA 31.1 min; Los Angeles is 7 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.5%94th pctl | 17.3%77th pctl | Work from home: Austin, TX 27.5%; Los Angeles, CA 17.3%; Austin is 10.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | Job market: Austin, TX B+; Los Angeles, CA C-; Austin is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 41880th pctl | 66892nd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Austin, TX 418; Los Angeles, CA 668; Los Angeles is 60% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07792nd pctl | 2,24882nd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Austin, TX 3,077; Los Angeles, CA 2,248; Austin is 37% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Austin, TX C+; Los Angeles, CA A-; Los Angeles is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Air quality: Austin, TX A-; Los Angeles, CA B-; Austin is graded higher. |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Poor | About the same |
| 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+; Los Angeles, CA 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 isn't available for Austin, 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 | Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Austin, TX B+; Los Angeles, CA D-; Austin is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState 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. | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState 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 | Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Austin, TX 2 mi; Los Angeles, CA 0 mi; Austin is 11.5 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Austin, TX F; Los Angeles, CA D+; Los Angeles is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 196 mi22nd pctl | 123 mi13th pctl | Distance to international border: Austin, TX 196 mi; Los Angeles, CA 123 mi; Austin is 59% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 155 mi37th pctl | 12 mi11th pctl | Distance to coastline: Austin, TX 155 mi; Los Angeles, CA 12 mi; Austin is 13.2 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Austin, TX | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 967,862100th pctl | 3,857,897100th pctl | Population: Austin, TX 967,862; Los Angeles, CA 3,857,897; Los Angeles is 4.0 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,97877th pctl | 8,19997th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Austin, TX 2,978; Los Angeles, CA 8,199; Los Angeles is 2.8 times higher. |
| Median age | 34.522nd pctl | 36.940th pctl | Median age: Austin, TX 34.5; Los Angeles, CA 36.9; Los Angeles is 2.4 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2%87th pctl | 37.8%63rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Austin, TX 58.2%; Los Angeles, CA 37.8%; Austin is 20.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 2.672nd pctl | Average household size: Austin, TX 2.1; Los Angeles, CA 2.6; Los Angeles is 23% larger. |
More about Austin's residents · Los Angeles's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | AustinAustin, TX | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+26 | D+17 |
| 2024 presidential | D +49.0 pts | D +31.0 pts |
Full politics data: Austin · Los Angeles
Moving between Austin and Los Angeles
- Median rent: $1,655 in Austin, $1,879 in Los Angeles
- Median home value: $512,700 in Austin, $879,500 in Los Angeles
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Austin, 222 in Los Angeles
- Median household income: $91,461 in Austin, $80,366 in Los Angeles
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,425 in Austin, $186,926 in Los Angeles
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Austin, 5.8% in Los Angeles
- Average commute: 24 min in Austin, 31.1 min in Los Angeles
- Violent crime per 100k: 418 in Austin, 668 in Los Angeles
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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: 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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