Which is better, Austin, TX or Houston, TX?

Austin, TX comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 35 of 44 statistics where one end is better, to 9. Austin, TX leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Austin, TX or Houston, TX?

Austin, TX has a population of 1,011,743 (12th of 477 US cities) and Houston, TX has 2,419,191 (4th of 477).

How do Austin, TX and Houston, TX compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Austin, TX $93,658 (101st of 434), Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434) among US cities. Austin, TX ranks better.

How do Austin, TX and Houston, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Austin, TX $555,300 (339th of 434), Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.

Where does Austin, TX beat Houston, TX most clearly?

Austin, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 100.6; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 82.0 vs 95.3; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 12.0% vs 19.9%.

Where does Houston, TX beat Austin, TX most clearly?

Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $277,800 vs $555,300; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,361 vs $1,729; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.5 vs 120.4.

Austin, TX vs Houston, TX

Austin, TX comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 35 of 44 statistics where one end is better, to 9. Austin, TX leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

44 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Austin, TX

Wins: 35
Avg. percentile: 55
Categories led: 2

Houston, TX

Wins: 9
Avg. percentile: 33
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Austin, TX	Houston, TX
Population	1,011,743 12th of 477	2,419,191 4th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$93,658 101st of 434	$64,813 276th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$555,300 339th of 434	$277,800 188th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	12.0% 151st of 434	19.9% 333rd of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.1 tied 212th of 460	98.6 tied 224th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$74,580 tied 89th of 460	$67,610 tied 186th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,729 312th of 434	$1,361 tied 215th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	418.2 219th of 395	886.1 356th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

EconomicsAustin, TX · 14 statistics
Crime & SafetyAustin, TX · 5 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	Austin, TX	Houston, TX
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	93.8 tied 39th of 460	100.6 tied 300th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	82.0 tied 73rd of 460	95.3 tied 290th of 460
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	12.0% 151st of 434	19.9% 333rd of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$93,658 101st of 434	$64,813 276th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	93.8% 121st of 434	90.1% 284th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$56,950 tied 82nd of 460	$49,410 tied 242nd of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$555,300 339th of 434	$277,800 188th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	418.2 219th of 395	886.1 356th of 395
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	59.6% 62nd of 434	36.6% 187th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	5.1 252nd of 395	11.3 340th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,729 312th of 434	$1,361 tied 215th of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$74,580 tied 89th of 460	$67,610 tied 186th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	23.7 253rd of 434	27.2 336th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	120.4 tied 315th of 460	104.5 tied 234th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	3,065.7 328th of 395	3,807.2 360th of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	96.2 tied 66th of 460	95.6 tied 47th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	432.6 332nd of 395	520.3 350th of 395
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.1 tied 212th of 460	98.6 tied 224th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	434.0 335th of 395	484.6 344th of 395

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Austin, TX or Houston, TX?: Austin, TX comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 35 of 44 statistics where one end is better, to 9. Austin, TX leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Austin, TX or Houston, TX?: Austin, TX has a population of 1,011,743 (12th of 477 US cities) and Houston, TX has 2,419,191 (4th of 477).
How do Austin, TX and Houston, TX compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Austin, TX $93,658 (101st of 434), Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434) among US cities. Austin, TX ranks better.
How do Austin, TX and Houston, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Austin, TX $555,300 (339th of 434), Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.
Where does Austin, TX beat Houston, TX most clearly?: Austin, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 100.6; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 82.0 vs 95.3; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 12.0% vs 19.9%.
Where does Houston, TX beat Austin, TX most clearly?: Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $277,800 vs $555,300; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,361 vs $1,729; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.5 vs 120.4.

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