Austin, TX vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | AustinAustin, TX | RaleighRaleigh, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 196 mi from an international border, Austin, TX and Raleigh, NC differ in several key metrics from 2023–2025 data. Raleigh sits 493 mi from a border, or 2.5× farther, and its job growth over the past year was +2.1% compared to Austin’s -0.1%, a 2.2-point difference that places Raleigh in the 78th percentile and Austin in the 19th. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 22 in Austin versus 7 in Raleigh, a 3.0× higher rate, with Austin in the 65th percentile and Raleigh in the 15th. The state and local tax burden is 8.6% of income in Austin and 9.9% in Raleigh, 1.3 points higher in Raleigh, which sits in the 48th percentile while Austin is in the 10th.
Work-from-home rates also diverge sharply: 27.5% of Austin workers telecommute versus 14.5% in Raleigh, a 13.0-point gap that puts Austin in the 94th percentile and Raleigh in the 68th. The air quality index is 52 in Austin and 46 in Raleigh, 13% higher in Austin, corresponding to the 85th and 68th percentiles. Average household size is 2.1 in Austin and 2.3 in Raleigh, 7% larger in Raleigh, with Raleigh in the 31st percentile and Austin in the 13th. Median home values are $512,700 in Austin and $377,800 in Raleigh, a 36% difference, while the comfortable income for a single person is $99,609 in Austin and $73,400 in Raleigh, also 36% higher. Both cities carry an F grade for national disaster risk.
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 | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 12967th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Austin, TX 158; Raleigh, NC 129; Austin is 22% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $512,70083rd pctl | $377,80069th pctl | Median home value: Austin, TX $512,700; Raleigh, NC $377,800; Austin is 36% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65578th pctl | $1,46869th pctl | Median rent: Austin, TX $1,655; Raleigh, NC $1,468; Austin is 13% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,46171st pctl | $82,42462nd pctl | Median household income: Austin, TX $91,461; Raleigh, NC $82,424; Austin is 11% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,60985th pctl | $73,40070th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Austin, TX $99,609; Raleigh, NC $73,400; Austin is 36% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,42585th pctl | $107,89870th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Austin, TX $146,425; Raleigh, NC $107,898; Austin is 36% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | Housing affordability: Austin, TX C-; Raleigh, NC B-; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Raleigh needs about
$61,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 vs 129). 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 | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.1%19th pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Austin, TX -0.1%; Raleigh, NC +2.1%; Raleigh is 2.2 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $59,42787th pctl | $49,94877th pctl | Per-capita income: Austin, TX $59,427; Raleigh, NC $49,948; Austin is 19% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.3%54th pctl | 11.4%49th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24 min54th pctl | 25.1 min62nd pctl | Average commute: Austin, TX 24 min; Raleigh, NC 25.1 min; Raleigh is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.5%94th pctl | 14.5%68th pctl | Work from home: Austin, TX 27.5%; Raleigh, NC 14.5%; Austin is 13.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Austin, TX B+; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Austin, TX | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 41880th pctl | 39177th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Austin, TX 418; Raleigh, NC 391; Austin is 7% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07792nd pctl | 2,29683rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Austin, TX 3,077; Raleigh, NC 2,296; Austin is 34% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Austin, TX D-; Raleigh, NC C-; Raleigh is graded higher. |
| 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+; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Austin, TX | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| 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 | Clean | Tap water: Austin, TX C-; Raleigh, NC A; Raleigh 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 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 | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState 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. | C-State 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 | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Austin, TX 2 mi; Raleigh, NC 4 mi; Raleigh is 57% higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Austin, TX F; Raleigh, NC D+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 196 mi22nd pctl | 493 mi68th pctl | Distance to international border: Austin, TX 196 mi; Raleigh, NC 493 mi; Raleigh is 2.5 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 155 mi37th pctl | 117 mi31st pctl | Distance to coastline: Austin, TX 155 mi; Raleigh, NC 117 mi; Austin is 32% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Austin, TX | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 967,862100th pctl | 470,76398th pctl | Population: Austin, TX 967,862; Raleigh, NC 470,763; Austin is 2.1 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,97877th pctl | 3,07179th pctl | About the same |
| Median age | 34.522nd pctl | 34.723rd pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2%87th pctl | 52.9%83rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Austin, TX 58.2%; Raleigh, NC 52.9%; Austin is 5.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 2.331st pctl | Average household size: Austin, TX 2.1; Raleigh, NC 2.3; Raleigh is 7% larger. |
More about Austin's residents · Raleigh'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 Raleigh
- Median rent: $1,655 in Austin, $1,468 in Raleigh
- Median home value: $512,700 in Austin, $377,800 in Raleigh
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Austin, 129 in Raleigh
- Median household income: $91,461 in Austin, $82,424 in Raleigh
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,425 in Austin, $107,898 in Raleigh
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Austin, 3.2% in Raleigh
- Average commute: 24 min in Austin, 25.1 min in Raleigh
- Violent crime per 100k: 418 in Austin, 391 in Raleigh
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More places like Austin and Raleigh
- 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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