

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.
| Statistic | Houston, TX | San 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.
| Statistic | Houston, TX | San 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 |
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
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