City comparison
No. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
The income gap between Houston and Atlanta is significant: $64,813 median household versus $85,652. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $1,711 in Atlanta.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Atlanta wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Atlanta are 701 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $350 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $20,839 (32%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 197 in Atlanta, down 73 points (27%).
The move
Atlanta and Houston are 701 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $350 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $64,813 in Houston, down $20,839 (24%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 270 in Houston, up 73 points (37%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Houston rent is 20% cheaper than Atlanta
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Houston is 20% 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 $4,200, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Houston still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Atlanta.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Atlanta's median income is 32% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Atlanta (about $20,839 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, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. Houston 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
Atlanta's crime index is 27% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Atlanta. 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, Atlanta is the easier city. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Atlanta are about even on typical weather.
Houston
77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); Atlanta averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Atlanta sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Atlanta 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 Houston (197 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.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Atlanta at $85,652 median income versus $64,813 in Houston. Housing ($1,361 in Houston, $1,711 in Atlanta) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Atlanta still pays more locally ($85,652 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays Atlanta rates.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,711 in Atlanta.
Atlanta clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Houston deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,361/month beats chasing $85,652 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Atlanta when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Atlanta, plus other cities in TX and GA.
