Which is better, Austin, TX or Washington, DC?

Austin, TX comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 30 of 39 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 Washington, DC?

Austin, TX has a population of 1,011,743 (12th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).

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

Median Household Income: Austin, TX $93,658 (101st of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Austin, TX $555,300 (339th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Austin, TX ranks better.

Where does Austin, TX beat Washington, DC most clearly?

Austin, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 104.8; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.2 vs 102.3; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 82.0 vs 106.7.

Where does Washington, DC beat Austin, TX most clearly?

Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 193.3 vs 434.0; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $91,930 vs $74,580; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $71,060 vs $56,950.

Austin, TX vs Washington, DC

Austin, TX comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 30 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 9. Austin, TX leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

39 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: 30
Avg. percentile: 56
Categories led: 2

Washington, DC

Wins: 9
Avg. percentile: 34
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Austin, TX	Washington, DC
Population	1,011,743 12th of 477	698,733 22nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$93,658 101st of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$555,300 339th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	12.0% 151st of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.1 tied 212th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$74,580 tied 89th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,729 312th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	418.2 219th of 395	746.8 329th 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	Washington, DC
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	93.8 tied 39th of 460	104.8 tied 362nd of 460
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	96.2 tied 66th of 460	102.3 tied 371st of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	82.0 tied 73rd of 460	106.7 tied 329th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	434.0 335th of 395	193.3 172nd of 395
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.1 tied 212th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	23.7 253rd of 434	30.0 384th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	5.1 252nd of 395	16.6 368th of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	418.2 219th of 395	746.8 329th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	93.8% 121st of 434	91.2% 241st of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	12.0% 151st of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	120.4 tied 315th of 460	151.1 tied 390th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$74,580 tied 89th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$56,950 tied 82nd of 460	$71,060 tied 30th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	432.6 332nd of 395	650.5 371st of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,729 312th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$555,300 339th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$93,658 101st of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	59.6% 62nd of 434	64.2% 48th of 434
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	3,065.7 328th of 395	3,070.2 329th 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 Washington, DC?: Austin, TX comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 30 of 39 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 Washington, DC?: Austin, TX has a population of 1,011,743 (12th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
How do Austin, TX and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Austin, TX $93,658 (101st of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
How do Austin, TX and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Austin, TX $555,300 (339th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Austin, TX ranks better.
Where does Austin, TX beat Washington, DC most clearly?: Austin, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 104.8; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.2 vs 102.3; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 82.0 vs 106.7.
Where does Washington, DC beat Austin, TX most clearly?: Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 193.3 vs 434.0; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $91,930 vs $74,580; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $71,060 vs $56,950.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Austin, TX or Washington, DC.

All US cities matchups