City comparison
No. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Houston and Austin is significant: $64,813 median household versus $93,658. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $1,729 in Austin.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Austin 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 Austin are 147 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $368 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $93,658 in Austin, up $28,845 (45%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 162 in Austin, down 108 points (40%).
The move
Austin and Houston are 147 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $368 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $64,813 in Houston, down $28,845 (31%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 270 in Houston, up 108 points (67%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Houston rent is 21% cheaper than Austin
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Austin
$1,729/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,729 in Austin, so Houston is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $368/month back in your pocket ($4,416/year). Over five years that's $22,080 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, Houston 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
45% higher
Austin's median income is 45% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Austin
Winner$93,658
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Austin (about $28,845 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. 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
40% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 40% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. 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 Austin are about even on typical weather.
Houston
77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin
76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Austin sits near 76°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 21% 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
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 45% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 40% lower than Houston (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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Austin scores 45/100 versus 30/100 in Houston. Rent is $1,729/month in Austin and $1,361/month in Houston, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,729 in Austin.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Austin; Houston only makes sense when you have walked the Houston ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,361 rent.
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 Houston and Austin, plus other cities in TX.
