Houston, TX vs Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 39 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 13. Houston, TX leads on Economics. Phoenix, AZ leads on Crime & Safety.

52 statistics with a better end, compared

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

Houston, TX
Wins
13
Avg. percentile
33
Categories led
1
Phoenix, AZ
Wins
39
Avg. percentile
50
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticHouston, TXPhoenix, AZ
Population
2,419,191
4th of 477
1,677,947
5th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$64,813
276th of 434
$81,332
158th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$277,800
188th of 434
$420,700
287th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
19.9%
333rd of 434
13.7%
199th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
98.6
tied 224th of 460
103.3
tied 321st of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
$69,630
tied 156th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
$1,582
277th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
886.1
356th of 395
694.5
315th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetyPhoenix, AZ · 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, TXPhoenix, AZ
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.6
tied 47th of 460
104.0
tied 397th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.6
tied 300th of 460
95.0
tied 97th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
3,807.2
360th of 395
2,029.7
223rd of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
19.9%
333rd of 434
13.7%
199th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$64,813
276th of 434
$81,332
158th of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
484.6
344th of 395
265.8
240th of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$277,800
188th of 434
$420,700
287th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
98.6
tied 224th of 460
103.3
tied 321st of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
104.5
tied 234th of 460
121.2
tied 319th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$49,410
tied 242nd of 460
$51,380
tied 165th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
$1,582
277th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
90.1%
284th of 434
91.4%
230th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
11.3
340th of 395
7.5
294th of 395
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
520.3
350th of 395
350.3
305th of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
886.1
356th of 395
694.5
315th of 395
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
36.6%
187th of 434
33.6%
225th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
27.2
336th of 434
25.6
301st of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
$69,630
tied 156th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.3
tied 290th of 460
93.3
tied 268th of 460
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 Phoenix, AZ?
Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 39 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 13. Houston, TX leads on Economics. Phoenix, AZ 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 Phoenix, AZ?
Houston, TX has a population of 2,419,191 (4th of 477 US cities) and Phoenix, AZ has 1,677,947 (5th of 477).
How do Houston, TX and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
How do Houston, TX and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.
Where does Houston, TX beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?
Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.6 vs 104.0; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $277,800 vs $420,700; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 98.6 vs 103.3.
Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Houston, TX most clearly?
Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 100.6; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,029.7 vs 3,807.2; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 13.7% vs 19.9%.

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