City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Greensboro is significant: $93,658 median household versus $61,515. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,172 in Greensboro.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Greensboro makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Greensboro are 1,111 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $557 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $32,143 (34%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 214 in Greensboro, up 52 points (32%).
The move
Greensboro and Austin are 1,111 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $557 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $93,658 in Austin, up $32,143 (52%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 162 in Austin, down 52 points (24%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Greensboro, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 32% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,729 in Austin, so Greensboro is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $557/month back in your pocket ($6,684/year). Over five years that's $33,420 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Greensboro is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
52% higher
Austin's median income is 52% higher than Greensboro
Austin
Winner$93,658
Greensboro
$61,515
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Austin (about $32,143 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. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 24% lower than Greensboro
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Austin weather is 33% more comfortable than Greensboro
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 33% 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 Greensboro if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 52% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Greensboro (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Greensboro
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Greensboro at $1,172/month versus $1,729 in Austin ($557 apart). Austin median income is $93,658 against $61,515 in Greensboro, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Greensboro rent at $1,172/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 37/100 in Greensboro.
Pick Greensboro when shaving $557 off rent at $1,172/month is the priority. Otherwise, Austin's case rests on $1,729/month rent with $93,658 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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