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City comparison

Austin, TX vs Fresno, CA

Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Fresno. Austin averages 92°F while Fresno averages 85°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,852 versus $1,664.

This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market, safety, and schools and Fresno wins on cost of living and weather. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.

The crime gap is citywide. Austin has rougher pockets and Fresno has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.

Full Austin reportFull Fresno report

Austin, TX

Rent
1,852/mo
Median income
86,556
Crime index
117
Schools
A
Weather
92°F

Fresno, CA

Rent
1,664/mo
Median income
63,001
Crime index
181
Schools
A-
Weather
85°F

Rent

10% cheaper

Fresno rent is 10% cheaper than Austin

Austin

$1,852/mo

Fresno

Winner

$1,664/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,664 a month in Fresno versus $1,852 in Austin, so Fresno is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,256, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fresno still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Austin.

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Median income

37% higher

Austin's median income is 37% higher than Fresno

Austin

Winner

$86,556

Fresno

$63,001

What this means for your life

Median household income is $86,556 in Austin versus $63,001 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Austin (about $23,555 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Fresno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

35% lower crime

Austin's crime index is 35% lower than Fresno

Austin

Winner

117 (100 = avg)

Fresno

181 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Austin's crime index is 117 versus 181 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Fresno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

5% higher scores

Austin's school scores are 5% higher than Fresno

Austin

Winner

A · 88/100

Fresno

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

Austin grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Fresno. School scores run 5% higher in Austin. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear (or reverse) two neighborhoods over. Fresno is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

87% more comfortable

Fresno weather is 87% more comfortable than Austin

Austin

92°F avg · 104°F highs · comfort 38/100

Fresno

Winner

85°F avg · 97°F highs · comfort 71/100

What this means for your life

Austin averages about 92°F (104°F highs); Fresno averages about 85°F (97°F highs). Austin often hits 104°F highs, so expect heavy AC use and limited outdoor time in summer. Fresno runs very hot summers (highs near 97°F), which means indoor living for large stretches of the year. Fresno scores 87% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Austin if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 37% higher here ($86,556). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Austin is the stronger everyday city for households that care about calm streets and usable public schools. Safety and school scores both land here. You will still pick a neighborhood with care, but the citywide baseline is less of a gamble than in Fresno.

Open the Austin report →

Fit check

Who should choose Fresno

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Fresno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,664 a month. Choose Fresno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Fresno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (85°F) beat Austin on this page's weather index by 87%. Austin may pay more or cost less, but Fresno is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Fresno report →

Bottom line

Austin vs Fresno: Our Take

Austin wins overall, but the margin is thinner than the category headlines suggest (3 wins to 2).

Austin's median household income is 37% higher ($86,556 vs $63,001), which can offset housing cost for higher earners.

The main trade-off: Fresno's typical rent runs 10% lower than Austin ($1,664/month vs $1,852/month), which is real money over a lease.

The decision comes down to whether you value the job market more than cost of living. For most middle-income movers, Austin is the stronger choice.

Common questions

Austin vs Fresno FAQ

Is Austin cheaper than Fresno?
No. Fresno is cheaper: typical rent is $1,664 a month versus $1,852 in Austin (10% lower). Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $63,001 in Fresno, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Austin or Fresno?
Austin is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 117 versus 181 in Fresno (35% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Austin or Fresno?
Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Fresno. School scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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