City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Houston and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 128 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,572 in Raleigh.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Raleigh 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 crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Raleigh are 1,055 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $211 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $20,582 (32%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 142 in Raleigh, down 128 points (47%).
The move
Raleigh and Houston are 1,055 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $211 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $64,813 in Houston, down $20,582 (24%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 270 in Houston, up 128 points (90%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Houston rent is 13% cheaper than Raleigh
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Houston is 13% 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 $2,532, 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 Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Raleigh's median income is 32% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Raleigh (about $20,582 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, Raleigh 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
47% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 47% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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 Raleigh are about even on typical weather.
Houston
77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); Raleigh averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh sits near 67°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 13% 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
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Houston (142 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Raleigh: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,572 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 19 safety points for housing savings.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,572 in Raleigh.
If safety drives your move, Raleigh is the stronger match (49/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Houston, treat $1,361/month rent and $64,813 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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