Austin, TX vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AustinAustin, TX | SeattleSeattle, WA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Good | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 8.6% of income, Austin, TX carries a lower state and local tax burden than Seattle, WA, where the figure is 10.7%, a 2.1-point gap that places Austin in the 10th percentile and Seattle in the 62nd percentile. The 2023 Census figures also show Seattle with a higher cost of living index at 233 versus Austin’s 158, and median home values of $912,100 compared with $512,700, a 78% difference. Seattle’s median household income of $121,984 runs 33% higher than Austin’s $91,461.
Seattle’s air quality index of 41 is lower than Austin’s 52, a 27% difference, with Austin in the 85th percentile and Seattle in the 42nd. Healthcare access scores put Seattle at 100/100 versus Austin’s 92/100, an 8-point gap. Unemployment stands at 4.2% in Seattle and 3.5% in Austin, a 0.7-point difference. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 22 in Austin and 14 in Seattle, making Austin 56% higher.
Seattle sits directly on the coastline at 0 miles, while Austin is 155 miles inland, and Seattle’s population density of 8,824 people per square mile is 3.0× higher than Austin’s 2,978. Seattle’s violent crime rate of 697 per 100,000 exceeds Austin’s 418 by 67%, and property crime runs 44% higher at 4,424 versus 3,077. Austin’s population of 967,862 is 31% larger than Seattle’s 741,440.
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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 23394th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Austin, TX 158; Seattle, WA 233; Seattle is 47% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $512,70083rd pctl | $912,10095th pctl | Median home value: Austin, TX $512,700; Seattle, WA $912,100; Seattle is 78% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65578th pctl | $1,99891st pctl | Median rent: Austin, TX $1,655; Seattle, WA $1,998; Seattle is 21% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,46171st pctl | $121,98489th pctl | Median household income: Austin, TX $91,461; Seattle, WA $121,984; Seattle is 33% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,60985th pctl | $164,14695th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Austin, TX $99,609; Seattle, WA $164,146; Seattle is 65% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,42585th pctl | $241,29595th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Austin, TX $146,425; Seattle, WA $241,295; Seattle is 65% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Seattle needs about
$110,600
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 vs 233). 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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | Unemployment: Austin, TX 3.5%; Seattle, WA 4.2%; Seattle is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.1%19th pctl | -0.4%13th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $59,42787th pctl | $82,50894th pctl | Per-capita income: Austin, TX $59,427; Seattle, WA $82,508; Seattle is 39% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.3%54th pctl | 9.9%41st pctl | Poverty rate: Austin, TX 12.3%; Seattle, WA 9.9%; Austin is 2.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24 min54th pctl | 26.6 min71st pctl | Average commute: Austin, TX 24 min; Seattle, WA 26.6 min; Seattle is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.5%94th pctl | 31.3%96th pctl | Work from home: Austin, TX 27.5%; Seattle, WA 31.3%; Seattle is 3.8 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Austin, TX | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 41880th pctl | 69793rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Austin, TX 418; Seattle, WA 697; Seattle is 67% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07792nd pctl | 4,42498th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Austin, TX 3,077; Seattle, WA 4,424; Seattle is 44% 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. | Traffic safety: Austin, TX C+; Seattle, WA B+; Seattle is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Austin, TX | Seattle, WA | 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-; Seattle, WA A+; Seattle 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, 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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Austin, TX B+; Seattle, WA C+; Austin is graded higher. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Austin, TX 2 mi; Seattle, WA 1 mi; Austin is 77% higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Austin, TX F; Seattle, WA D+; Seattle is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 196 mi22nd pctl | 95 mi9th pctl | Distance to international border: Austin, TX 196 mi; Seattle, WA 95 mi; Austin is 2.1 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 155 mi37th pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Distance to coastline: Austin, TX 155 mi; Seattle, WA 0 mi; Austin is higher (Seattle: 0 mi). |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Austin, TX | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 967,862100th pctl | 741,44099th pctl | Population: Austin, TX 967,862; Seattle, WA 741,440; Austin is 31% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,97877th pctl | 8,82497th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Austin, TX 2,978; Seattle, WA 8,824; Seattle is 3.0 times higher. |
| Median age | 34.522nd pctl | 35.529th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2%87th pctl | 67.5%93rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Austin, TX 58.2%; Seattle, WA 67.5%; Seattle is 9.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 26th pctl | Average household size: Austin, TX 2.1; Seattle, WA 2; Austin is 5% larger. |
More about Austin's residents · Seattle'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 Seattle
- Median rent: $1,655 in Austin, $1,998 in Seattle
- Median home value: $512,700 in Austin, $912,100 in Seattle
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Austin, 233 in Seattle
- Median household income: $91,461 in Austin, $121,984 in Seattle
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,425 in Austin, $241,295 in Seattle
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Austin, 4.2% in Seattle
- Average commute: 24 min in Austin, 26.6 min in Seattle
- Violent crime per 100k: 418 in Austin, 697 in Seattle
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More places like Austin and Seattle
- 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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