City comparison
No. Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
The income gap between Houston and Stockton is significant: $64,813 median household versus $79,907. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Stockton 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Houston and Stockton are 1,585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $216 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $79,907 in Stockton, up $15,094 (23%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 233 in Stockton, down 37 points (14%).
The move
Stockton and Houston are 1,585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $216 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $64,813 in Houston, down $15,094 (19%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 270 in Houston, up 37 points (16%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Houston rent is 14% cheaper than Stockton
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Houston is 14% 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 $2,592, 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 Stockton.
Planning to buy in Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Stockton's median income is 23% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Stockton (about $15,094 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, Stockton 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
14% lower crime
Stockton's crime index is 14% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Stockton
Winner233 (100 = avg)
Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Stockton. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Stockton, 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton 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 14% 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
Stockton is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($79,907). Start with Stockton if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Stockton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than Houston (233 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
Pay is the headline: Stockton median income is $79,907 versus $64,813 in Houston (19% higher). Rent still runs $1,577/month in Stockton and $1,361/month in Houston, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Stockton rates.
Stockton still pays more locally ($79,907 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays Stockton rates.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Houston and 34/100 in Stockton.
If local pay drives your move, Stockton is the stronger match ($79,907 median income against $64,813). 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
Ready to move to Stockton?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Stockton when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Stockton, plus other cities in TX and CA.
