City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Houston and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
The cost gap between Houston and Orlando is the real story here. Houston comes in 22% cheaper on typical rent ($1,361 vs $1,747), which over a year adds up to $4,632. Median household income runs $64,813 in Houston and $72,336 in Orlando.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Orlando 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 Orlando are 848 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $386 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $72,336 in Orlando, up $7,523 (12%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 242 in Orlando, down 28 points (10%).
The move
Orlando and Houston are 848 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $386 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $64,813 in Houston, down $7,523 (10%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 270 in Houston, up 28 points (12%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Houston rent is 22% cheaper than Orlando
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Houston is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $386/month back in your pocket ($4,632/year). Over five years that's $23,160 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 Orlando, 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 Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Orlando's median income is 12% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Orlando (about $7,523 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, Orlando 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
10% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 10% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Orlando. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Orlando, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Houston. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°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 22% 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
Orlando is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($72,336). Start with Orlando if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Orlando is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Houston (242 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,361/month in Houston versus $1,747 in Orlando. Median income reads $64,813 in Houston and $72,336 in Orlando, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Orlando's $1,747, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $64,813 in Houston.
Pick Houston when shaving $386 off rent at $1,361/month is the priority. Otherwise, Orlando's case rests on $1,747/month rent with $72,336 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Orlando when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Orlando, plus other cities in TX and FL.
