Houston, TX vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | HoustonHouston, TX | San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | High Autonomy | |
| Strategic | High Risk | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At $146,809 for a family of four, Houston, TX and San Antonio, TX differ sharply in comfortable income, with Houston’s figure 2.3× higher than San Antonio’s $62,745 in 2024 data. The same ratio applies to a single person’s comfortable income: $99,870 in Houston versus $42,684 in San Antonio, placing Houston in the 85th percentile and San Antonio in the 34th. Per-capita income also separates the two, with Houston at $41,142 (60th percentile) compared to San Antonio’s $32,983 (32nd percentile), a 25% gap. Unemployment runs 4.5% in Houston against 3.9% in San Antonio, a 0.6-point difference, while average commutes are 27.3 minutes and 24.6 minutes, respectively.
Healthcare access scores from 2024 show San Antonio at 86/100 versus Houston’s 71/100, a 15-point spread, with San Antonio in the 53rd percentile and Houston in the 33rd. Distance to the international border is 290 miles from Houston but only 127 miles from San Antonio, making Houston’s figure 2.3× higher. Median home values from 2023 are $253,400 in Houston and $219,700 in San Antonio, a 15% difference, while median rents are nearly equal at $1,313 and $1,258. Violent crime per 100,000 people in 2025 stands at 886 in Houston versus 528 in San Antonio, a 68% higher rate in Houston, though property crime counts are close at 3,815 and 3,909. Population figures from 2023 put Houston at 2,300,419 and San Antonio at 1,458,954, with Houston 58% larger.
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 | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 10451st pctl | 9645th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Houston, TX 104; San Antonio, TX 96; Houston is 8% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $253,40044th pctl | $219,70034th pctl | Median home value: Houston, TX $253,400; San Antonio, TX $219,700; Houston is 15% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,31358th pctl | $1,25854th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $62,89434th pctl | $62,91734th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,87085th pctl | $42,68434th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Houston, TX $99,870; San Antonio, TX $42,684; Houston is 2.3 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,80985th pctl | $62,74534th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Houston, TX $146,809; San Antonio, TX $62,745; Houston is 2.3 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | Housing affordability: Houston, TX B+; San Antonio, TX A+; San Antonio is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in San Antonio needs about
$69,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 104 vs 96). 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 | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.5%83rd pctl | 3.9%62nd pctl | Unemployment: Houston, TX 4.5%; San Antonio, TX 3.9%; Houston is 0.6 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | +1.0%46th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $41,14260th pctl | $32,98332nd pctl | Per-capita income: Houston, TX $41,142; San Antonio, TX $32,983; Houston is 25% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 19.7%81st pctl | 17.1%73rd pctl | Poverty rate: Houston, TX 19.7%; San Antonio, TX 17.1%; Houston is 2.6 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 27.3 min76th pctl | 24.6 min58th pctl | Average commute: Houston, TX 27.3 min; San Antonio, TX 24.6 min; Houston is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 11.7%56th pctl | 11.8%57th pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 88697th pctl | 52887th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Houston, TX 886; San Antonio, TX 528; Houston is 68% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,81596th pctl | 3,90997th pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Houston, TX F; San Antonio, TX D; San Antonio is graded higher. |
| 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 | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Houston, TX B+; San Antonio, TX A; San Antonio is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Clean | Poor | Tap water: Houston, TX B+; San Antonio, TX F; 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: Houston, TX A-; San Antonio, TX A+; San Antonio 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 | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi0th pctl | 3 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Houston, TX 0 mi; San Antonio, TX 3 mi; San Antonio is higher (Houston: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Houston, TX F; San Antonio, TX D-; San Antonio is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 290 mi43rd pctl | 127 mi14th pctl | Distance to international border: Houston, TX 290 mi; San Antonio, TX 127 mi; Houston is 2.3 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 20 mi15th pctl | 133 mi33rd pctl | Distance to coastline: Houston, TX 20 mi; San Antonio, TX 133 mi; San Antonio is 6.6 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419100th pctl | 1,458,954100th pctl | Population: Houston, TX 2,300,419; San Antonio, TX 1,458,954; Houston is 58% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,59084th pctl | 2,87976th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Houston, TX 3,590; San Antonio, TX 2,879; Houston is 25% higher. |
| Median age | 34.321st pctl | 34.623rd pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0%59th pctl | 28.7%41st pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Houston, TX 36.0%; San Antonio, TX 28.7%; Houston is 7.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.554th pctl | 2.670th pctl | Average household size: Houston, TX 2.5; San Antonio, TX 2.6; San Antonio is 6% larger. |
More about Houston's residents · San Antonio'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 | HoustonHouston, TX | San AntonioSan Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+21 | D+19 |
| 2024 presidential | D +40.0 pts | D +34.0 pts |
Full politics data: Houston · San Antonio
Moving between Houston and San Antonio
- Median rent: $1,313 in Houston, $1,258 in San Antonio
- Median home value: $253,400 in Houston, $219,700 in San Antonio
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 104 in Houston, 96 in San Antonio
- Median household income: $62,894 in Houston, $62,917 in San Antonio
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,809 in Houston, $62,745 in San Antonio
- Unemployment: 4.5% in Houston, 3.9% in San Antonio
- Average commute: 27.3 min in Houston, 24.6 min in San Antonio
- Violent crime per 100k: 886 in Houston, 528 in San Antonio
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More places like Houston and San Antonio
- 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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