Austin vs Houston

Category / Metric	Austin	Houston
Financial Overview
Median Income	$91,501	$62,637
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	4.8%
Housing Market
Median Home Price	$520,000	$335,000
Price per SqFt	$306	$175
Monthly Rent (1BR)	$821	$1,135
Housing Cost Index	126.4	106.5
Cost of Living
Groceries Index	91.9	103.4
Gas Price (Gallon)	$2.35	$2.35
Safety & Lifestyle
Violent Crime (per 100k)	399.5	912.4
Bachelor's Degree+	61.7%	37.1%
Air Quality (AQI)	41	44

Welcome to the ultimate Texas showdown. You’re standing at a crossroads between two of America's most talked-about cities, and the choice couldn't be more different. On one side, you have the "Silicon Hills" of Austin—trendy, outdoorsy, and bursting at the seams with transplants. On the other, you have the sprawling energy giant of Houston—diverse, affordable, and grittier.

Forget the glossy brochures. As your relocation expert, I’m going to give you the unvarnished truth about where your money goes, where you’ll sit in traffic, and which city actually fits your life. Let’s dive into the data.

The Vibe Check: Laid-Back Weird vs. Cosmopolitan Grit

Austin is the cool younger sibling who moved to town and became a tech millionaire. It’s a city built on the mantra of "Keep Austin Weird," though these days it’s more like "Keep Austin Expensive." The vibe is decidedly casual. You’ll see Patagonia vests in boardrooms and flip-flops at the grocery store. It’s the live music capital of the world, with a massive emphasis on outdoor activities like paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake and hiking the Greenbelt. It’s young, active, and fiercely proud of its local scene, even as California transplants flood in.

Houston is the big brother who actually runs the family business. It’s a sprawling, international metropolis that feels more like a collection of distinct neighborhoods than one cohesive city. There’s no zoning laws here, which means a hip coffee shop can sit next to an oil refinery. The culture is high-brow (the Texas Medical Center is the largest in the world) and deeply diverse (it’s one of America’s most diverse cities). It’s a city for foodies who don’t care about ambiance and professionals who want big-city amenities without the Northeast price tag.

Who is it for?

Austin: Best for young professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, and tech workers who want a work-hard-play-hard lifestyle with a scenic backdrop.
Houston: Best for families looking for value, medical professionals, energy sector workers, and anyone who craves world-class dining and cultural diversity.

The Dollar Power: Where Does Your Salary Feel Bigger?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Taxes. Both cities sit in Texas, meaning you pay $0 state income tax. If you’re coming from California or New York, your paycheck instantly gets a bump. But even within Texas, these two cities play by different rules.

Sticker shock is a real thing in Austin. The data shows a massive gap between what people earn and what they pay to live there. Houston, on the other hand, offers some serious bang for your buck, especially if you’re looking to rent.

Cost of Living Comparison (Monthly Estimates)

Category	Austin	Houston	The Takeaway
Rent (1BR)	$821	$1,135	Wait, what? The data shows Austin is cheaper to rent, which is a statistical anomaly thanks to ultra-low income units. Market-rate rent is actually higher in Austin.
Utilities	~$150	~$180	Houston's brutal A/C usage in summer spikes the electric bill.
Groceries	~$350	~$320	Houston's massive logistics hub keeps food costs slightly lower.
Housing Index	105.8	88.5	A score over 100 means Austin is pricier than the national average. Houston is cheaper.

The Salary Wars: $100k Buying Power

If you earn $100,000 in Austin, you are making significantly more than the median ($91,501), which is great. However, the median home price is a staggering $545,000. That means a standard home costs roughly 6x the median income. That is an affordability crisis.

In Houston, if you earn $100,000, you are crushing the median income ($62,637). The median home price is $335,000. That home costs roughly 5.3x the median income. While still not "cheap," your dollar stretches much further in Houston when it comes to real estate.

Expert Insight: Austin is currently facing a "brain drain" of its own locals who can't afford to buy in their hometown. Houston remains one of the last major US cities where a dual-income professional household can still realistically buy a starter home without being house-poor.

The Housing Market: Buying In

Renting

Austin has a higher vacancy rate and more new construction, which has stabilized rents slightly after a massive pandemic spike. However, competition for the "good" units is fierce. Houston’s rental market is massive and diverse. You can find a luxury high-rise in Midtown or a sprawling suburban house for the same price. Winner: Houston (for variety and value).

Buying

This is where the rubber meets the road.

Austin: It’s a seller’s market, but the frenzy has cooled slightly. You’re paying a premium for the "Austin Lifestyle." The inventory of homes under $400k is dangerously low. You are buying into appreciation, but the entry price is steep.
Houston: It’s a buyer’s market. You get more house for less money. The lack of zoning means you need to research neighborhoods carefully, but you can find a renovated bungalow with a yard for the price of a condo in Austin.

The Dealbreakers: Quality of Life

This is usually where people make their final decision.

Traffic & Commute

Austin: The infrastructure did not keep up with the population boom. I-35 is a nightmare, and Mopac Expressway is a parking lot during rush hour. Public transit (CapMetro) is improving but limited.
Houston: It is a "drive everywhere" city. The 610 Loop and the I-45/I-10 interchange are legendary for congestion. However, the city is so spread out that traffic moves (albeit slowly). Commutes can easily hit 45+ minutes.

Weather

Austin: Slightly more manageable. It gets hot (95°F+ in summer), but it’s a "dry heat" compared to Houston. It sees a light dusting of snow maybe once a year. More sunny days overall.
Houston: Brutal. It is humid. We’re talking "step outside and your clothes stick to you" humid. Summer highs hover around 90°F, but the humidity makes it feel like 100°F. It also rains... a lot. Hurricane season is a genuine threat.

Crime & Safety

Austin: Violent Crime Rate: 399.5/100k.
Houston: Violent Crime Rate: 912.4/100k.

Let’s be honest: Houston has a crime problem. The rate is more than double that of Austin. While Houston is massive and has very safe, affluent neighborhoods (like The Woodlands or Kingwood), the city-wide average is significantly higher. Austin is statistically much safer, especially in the central urban core.

Verdict on Safety: If safety is your #1 priority, Austin wins by a landslide.

The Verdict: Which City Should You Choose?

After crunching the numbers and feeling the vibes, here is the final breakdown.

Winner Category	City	Why?
Families	Houston	Winner. The schools (in specific ISDs), the affordable housing, and the family-centric suburbs (Katy, Sugar Land) make it a better long-term play for raising kids.
Singles / Young Pros	Austin	Winner. The social scene, the active lifestyle, and the networking opportunities in the tech/creative sectors are unmatched. It’s just more fun if you’re single.
Retirees	Houston	Winner. Access to the Texas Medical Center is unbeatable for health needs. Property taxes are high, but no income tax and lower home prices balance the ledger.

Final Pros & Cons Breakdown

Austin

Pros:

Significantly Safer: Violent crime is half that of Houston.
Outdoor Lifestyle: Hiking, biking, and lakes are integrated into the city.
Job Market: High median income ($91k) driven by tech.
Vibe: Young, energetic, and distinct culture.

Cons:

Housing Sticker Shock: Median home price ($545k) is prohibitive.
Traffic: Infrastructure is overwhelmed.
"Californication": Rapidly losing its local charm due to transplants.
Homelessness: Visible crisis in the downtown core.

Houston