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.

StatisticHouston, TXWashington, 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.

StatisticHouston, TXWashington, 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
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 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.