Houston vs Austin vs Dallas vs San Antonio
A data-driven comparison of Texas's four largest cities across cost of living, housing, jobs, and commute.
| Metric | Houston | Austin | Dallas | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,000 | 1,020,000 | 1,340,000 | 1,560,000 |
| Median Home Price | $274,000 | $475,000 | $310,000 | $245,000 |
| Median Income | $56,019 | $75,413 | $54,747 | $52,455 |
| Median Rent | $1,200 | $1,650 | $1,350 | $1,100 |
| Avg Commute | 28 min | 26 min | 27 min | 25 min |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 4% |
| State Income Tax | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Cost of Living Index | 93 | 106 | 98 | 88 |
Cost index: 100 = national average. Sources: Census ACS, BLS, C2ER.
Houston vs Austin
Housing
Houston's median home price ($274,000) is $201K cheaper compared to Austin ($475,000). Rent savings average $450/month.
Jobs
Houston's economy is diversified across Energy, Healthcare, Aerospace, Manufacturing. Austin focuses on Tech, Government, Education, Healthcare. Houston's unemployment (4.2%) vs Austin (3.5%).
Traffic & Commute
Average commute: Houston 28 min vs Austin 26 min. Houston's traffic congestion index (78) is lower than Austin's (82).
Cost of Living
Houston's overall cost of living index is 93 vs Austin's 106 (100 = national average). Both cities benefit from Texas's 0% state income tax.
Houston vs Dallas
Housing
Houston's median home price ($274,000) is $36K cheaper compared to Dallas ($310,000). Rent savings average $150/month.
Jobs
Houston's economy is diversified across Energy, Healthcare, Aerospace, Manufacturing. Dallas focuses on Finance, Tech, Telecom, Defense. Houston's unemployment (4.2%) vs Dallas (3.8%).
Traffic & Commute
Average commute: Houston 28 min vs Dallas 27 min. Houston's traffic congestion index (78) is lower than Dallas's (80).
Cost of Living
Houston's overall cost of living index is 93 vs Dallas's 98 (100 = national average). Both cities benefit from Texas's 0% state income tax.
Houston vs San Antonio
Housing
Houston's median home price ($274,000) is comparable compared to San Antonio ($245,000). Rent savings average $-100/month.
Jobs
Houston's economy is diversified across Energy, Healthcare, Aerospace, Manufacturing. San Antonio focuses on Military, Healthcare, Tourism, Cybersecurity. Houston's unemployment (4.2%) vs San Antonio (4%).
Traffic & Commute
Average commute: Houston 28 min vs San Antonio 25 min. Houston's traffic congestion index (78) is higher than San Antonio's (65).
Cost of Living
Houston's overall cost of living index is 93 vs San Antonio's 88 (100 = national average). Both cities benefit from Texas's 0% state income tax.