Houston, TX vs San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 28 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 9. Houston, TX leads on Economics. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety.

37 statistics with a better end, compared

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

Wins
9
Avg. percentile
33
Categories led
1
Wins
28
Avg. percentile
53
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticHouston, TXSan Diego, CA
Population
2,419,191
4th of 477
1,410,522
8th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$64,813
276th of 434
$108,077
68th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$277,800
188th of 434
$906,700
391st of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
19.9%
333rd of 434
11.0%
131st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
98.6
tied 224th of 460
111.9
tied 417th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
$79,060
tied 54th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
$2,313
395th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
886.1
356th of 395
372.3
191st of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetySan Diego, 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, TXSan Diego, CA
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
484.6
344th of 395
145.4
117th of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
11.3
340th of 395
1.7
119th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
3,807.2
360th of 395
1,539.0
157th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
90.1%
284th of 434
95.2%
69th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$64,813
276th of 434
$108,077
68th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.6
tied 47th of 460
99.6
tied 265th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$277,800
188th of 434
$906,700
391st of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
19.9%
333rd of 434
11.0%
131st of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
104.5
tied 234th of 460
179.3
tied 434th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
98.6
tied 224th of 460
111.9
tied 417th of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
886.1
356th of 395
372.3
191st of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
$2,313
395th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$49,410
tied 242nd of 460
$58,690
tied 70th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.3
tied 290th of 460
174.2
tied 453rd of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.6
tied 300th of 460
108.0
tied 437th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
$79,060
tied 54th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
36.6%
187th of 434
51.0%
87th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
27.2
336th of 434
23.5
244th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
520.3
350th of 395
297.6
275th 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 San Diego, CA?
San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 28 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 9. Houston, TX leads on Economics. San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA?
Houston, TX has a population of 2,419,191 (4th of 477 US cities) and San Diego, CA has 1,410,522 (8th of 477).
How do Houston, TX and San Diego, CA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434), San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.
How do Houston, TX and San Diego, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434), San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.
Where does Houston, TX beat San Diego, CA most clearly?
Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.6 vs 99.6; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $277,800 vs $906,700; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.5 vs 179.3.
Where does San Diego, CA beat Houston, TX most clearly?
San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 145.4 vs 484.6; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1.7 vs 11.3; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,539.0 vs 3,807.2.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Houston, TX or San Diego, CA.