City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Toledo. Austin averages 68°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,729 versus $934.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo 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. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Toledo are 1,115 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $934 a month in Toledo, down $795 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $62,224 in Toledo, down $31,434 (34%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 221 in Toledo, up 59 points (36%).
The move
Toledo and Austin are 1,115 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $795 a month (85%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $93,658 in Austin, up $31,434 (51%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 162 in Austin, down 59 points (27%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Toledo rent is 46% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,729 in Austin, so Toledo is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $795/month back in your pocket ($9,540/year). Over five years that's $47,700 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, Toledo 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
51% higher
Austin's median income is 51% higher than Toledo
Austin
Winner$93,658
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Austin (about $31,434 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 27% lower than Toledo
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Austin weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 64% 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 Toledo 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 51% 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 27% lower than Toledo (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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Toledo undercuts Austin by $795/month ($934 vs $1,729). I would not pick Austin on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 51°F in Toledo.
Toledo is the default on housing cost at $934/month versus $1,729 in Austin; Austin stays in play when $93,658 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $795 lease gap.
Common questions
Ready to move to Austin?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Toledo, plus other cities in TX and OH.
