Houston, TX vs Los Angeles, CA

Houston, TX comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 22 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 20 with 1 ties. Houston, TX leads on Economics. Los Angeles, CA leads on Crime & Safety.

43 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 1 tie. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Wins
22
Avg. percentile
36
Categories led
1
Wins
20
Avg. percentile
32
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticHouston, TXLos Angeles, CA
Population
2,419,191
4th of 477
3,863,148
2nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$64,813
276th of 434
$81,939
151st of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$277,800
188th of 434
$921,200
392nd of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
19.9%
333rd of 434
16.5%
271st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
98.6
tied 224th of 460
113.6
tied 423rd of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
$77,270
tied 61st of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
$1,933
352nd of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
886.1
356th of 395
667.7
309th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetyLos Angeles, CA · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsHouston, TX · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticHouston, TXLos Angeles, CA
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.6
tied 47th of 460
104.4
tied 413th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$277,800
188th of 434
$921,200
392nd of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
98.6
tied 224th of 460
113.6
tied 423rd of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
104.5
tied 234th of 460
170.4
tied 414th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$49,410
tied 242nd of 460
$55,850
tied 87th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
$1,933
352nd of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.3
tied 290th of 460
158.6
tied 419th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
3,807.2
360th of 395
2,235.5
246th of 395
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$64,813
276th of 434
$81,939
151st of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
90.1%
284th of 434
92.6%
172nd of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.6
tied 300th of 460
106.6
tied 411th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
$77,270
tied 61st of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
11.3
340th of 395
5.8
263rd of 395
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
484.6
344th of 395
308.4
275th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
19.9%
333rd of 434
16.5%
271st of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
27.2
336th of 434
30.7
396th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
886.1
356th of 395
667.7
309th of 395
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
36.6%
187th of 434
38.5%
167th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
520.3
350th of 395
518.8
348th 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, Houston, TX or Los Angeles, CA?
Houston, TX comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 22 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 20 with 1 ties. Houston, TX leads on Economics. Los Angeles, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Houston, TX or Los Angeles, CA?
Houston, TX has a population of 2,419,191 (4th of 477 US cities) and Los Angeles, CA has 3,863,148 (2nd of 477).
How do Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434), Los Angeles, CA $81,939 (151st of 434) among US cities. Los Angeles, CA ranks better.
How do Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434), Los Angeles, CA $921,200 (392nd of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.
Where does Houston, TX beat Los Angeles, CA most clearly?
Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.6 vs 104.4; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $277,800 vs $921,200; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 98.6 vs 113.6.
Where does Los Angeles, CA beat Houston, TX most clearly?
Los Angeles, CA ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $55,850 vs $49,410; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,235.5 vs 3,807.2; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $81,939 vs $64,813.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Houston, TX or Los Angeles, CA.