
Houston, TX vs Washington, DC
Washington, DC comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 29 of 51 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Houston, TX leads on Economics. Washington, DC leads on Crime & Safety.
51 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 22
- Avg. percentile
- 33
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 29
- Avg. percentile
- 38
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Houston, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,419,191 4th of 477 | 698,733 22nd of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $64,813 276th of 434 | $109,870 65th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $277,800 188th of 434 | $737,100 376th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 19.9% 333rd of 434 | 15.4% 241st of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 98.6 tied 224th of 460 | 108.9 tied 384th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $67,610 tied 186th of 460 | $91,930 tied 24th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,361 tied 215th of 434 | $1,954 354th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 886.1 356th of 395 | 746.8 329th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyWashington, DC · 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 | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.6 tied 47th of 460 | 102.3 tied 371st of 460 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $64,813 276th of 434 | $109,870 65th of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $49,410 tied 242nd of 460 | $71,060 tied 30th of 460 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 484.6 344th of 395 | 193.3 172nd of 395 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $277,800 188th of 434 | $737,100 376th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 98.6 tied 224th of 460 | 108.9 tied 384th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $67,610 tied 186th of 460 | $91,930 tied 24th of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 104.5 tied 234th of 460 | 151.1 tied 390th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 36.6% 187th of 434 | 64.2% 48th of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,361 tied 215th of 434 | $1,954 354th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 19.9% 333rd of 434 | 15.4% 241st of 434 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 100.6 tied 300th of 460 | 104.8 tied 362nd of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 27.2 336th of 434 | 30.0 384th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 90.1% 284th of 434 | 91.2% 241st of 434 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.3 tied 290th of 460 | 106.7 tied 329th of 460 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3,807.2 360th of 395 | 3,070.2 329th of 395 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 11.3 340th of 395 | 16.6 368th of 395 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 886.1 356th of 395 | 746.8 329th of 395 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 520.3 350th of 395 | 650.5 371st of 395 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Houston, TX or Washington, DC?
- Washington, DC comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 29 of 51 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Houston, TX leads on Economics. Washington, DC 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 Washington, DC?
- Houston, TX has a population of 2,419,191 (4th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
- How do Houston, TX and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
- How do Houston, TX and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.
- Where does Houston, TX beat Washington, DC most clearly?
- Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.6 vs 102.3; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $277,800 vs $737,100; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 98.6 vs 108.9.
- Where does Washington, DC beat Houston, TX most clearly?
- Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $109,870 vs $64,813; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $71,060 vs $49,410; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 193.3 vs 484.6.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Houston, TX or Washington, DC.
- Austin, TX vs Houston, TX
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- Columbus, OH vs Washington, DC
- Dallas, TX vs Washington, DC
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