City comparison
No. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,361 in Houston.
Safety is where Houston and San Antonio split most clearly. San Antonio scores 58 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 $1,324 in San Antonio.
San Antonio is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Houston makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Antonio is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. San Antonio has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and San Antonio are 190 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $37 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $243 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 212 in San Antonio, down 58 points (21%).
The move
San Antonio and Houston are 190 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,361 a month in Houston, up $37 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $64,813 in Houston, down $243 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 270 in Houston, up 58 points (27%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 3% cheaper than Houston
Houston
$1,361/mo
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,361 in Houston, so San Antonio is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $37, or $444 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
San Antonio's median income is 1% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 1% higher in San Antonio (about $243 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
21% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 21% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in San Antonio. 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, San Antonio 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 San Antonio are about even on typical weather.
Houston
77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. San Antonio sits near 75°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
On these five categories San Antonio takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Houston because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Houston only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,324 a month. Choose San Antonio if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
San Antonio is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($65,056). Start with San Antonio if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
San Antonio is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Houston (212 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 San Antonio: San Antonio scores 37/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,324 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 7 safety points for housing savings.
With only $37 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $64,813 in Houston.
If safety drives your move, San Antonio is the stronger match (37/100 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
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and San Antonio, plus other cities in TX.
