Which is better, Austin, TX or Seattle, WA?

Austin, TX comes out ahead of Seattle, WA on 27 of 40 statistics where one end is better, to 13. 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 Seattle, WA?

Austin, TX has a population of 1,011,743 (12th of 477 US cities) and Seattle, WA has 792,909 (18th of 477).

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

Median Household Income: Austin, TX $93,658 (101st of 434), Seattle, WA $123,860 (49th of 434) among US cities. Seattle, WA ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Austin, TX $555,300 (339th of 434), Seattle, WA $938,600 (394th of 434) among US cities. Austin, TX ranks better.

Where does Austin, TX beat Seattle, WA most clearly?

Austin, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.2 vs 106.8; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 104.0; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 98.1 vs 111.1.

Where does Seattle, WA beat Austin, TX most clearly?

Seattle, WA ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $72,610 vs $56,950; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $123,860 vs $93,658; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $91,790 vs $74,580.

Austin, TX vs Seattle, WA

Austin, TX comes out ahead of Seattle, WA on 27 of 40 statistics where one end is better, to 13. Austin, TX leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

40 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: 27
Avg. percentile: 56
Categories led: 2

Seattle, WA

Wins: 13
Avg. percentile: 42
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Austin, TX	Seattle, WA
Population	1,011,743 12th of 477	792,909 18th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$93,658 101st of 434	$123,860 49th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$555,300 339th of 434	$938,600 394th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	12.0% 151st of 434	9.88% 113th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.1 tied 212th of 460	111.1 tied 411th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$74,580 tied 89th of 460	$91,790 tied 34th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,729 312th of 434	$2,030 tied 369th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	418.2 219th of 395	698.7 318th 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	Seattle, WA
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	96.2 tied 66th of 460	106.8 tied 449th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	93.8 tied 39th of 460	104.0 tied 356th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.1 tied 212th of 460	111.1 tied 411th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	82.0 tied 73rd of 460	92.8 tied 262nd of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	418.2 219th of 395	698.7 318th of 395
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	120.4 tied 315th of 460	151.3 tied 400th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	434.0 335th of 395	975.9 392nd of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	3,065.7 328th of 395	4,419.6 382nd of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	23.7 253rd of 434	26.0 311th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,729 312th of 434	$2,030 tied 369th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$555,300 339th of 434	$938,600 394th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$56,950 tied 82nd of 460	$72,610 tied 24th of 460
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$93,658 101st of 434	$123,860 49th of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$74,580 tied 89th of 460	$91,790 tied 34th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	432.6 332nd of 395	733.9 376th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	12.0% 151st of 434	9.88% 113th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	93.8% 121st of 434	94.5% 93rd of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	59.6% 62nd of 434	68.4% 37th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	5.1 252nd of 395	4.4 232nd 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 Seattle, WA?: Austin, TX comes out ahead of Seattle, WA on 27 of 40 statistics where one end is better, to 13. 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 Seattle, WA?: Austin, TX has a population of 1,011,743 (12th of 477 US cities) and Seattle, WA has 792,909 (18th of 477).
How do Austin, TX and Seattle, WA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Austin, TX $93,658 (101st of 434), Seattle, WA $123,860 (49th of 434) among US cities. Seattle, WA ranks better.
How do Austin, TX and Seattle, WA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Austin, TX $555,300 (339th of 434), Seattle, WA $938,600 (394th of 434) among US cities. Austin, TX ranks better.
Where does Austin, TX beat Seattle, WA most clearly?: Austin, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.2 vs 106.8; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 104.0; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 98.1 vs 111.1.
Where does Seattle, WA beat Austin, TX most clearly?: Seattle, WA ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $72,610 vs $56,950; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $123,860 vs $93,658; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $91,790 vs $74,580.

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