City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Houston and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 177 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Tampa 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 Tampa are 791 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $340 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $75,475 in Tampa, up $10,662 (16%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 93 in Tampa, down 177 points (66%).
The move
Tampa and Houston are 791 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $340 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $64,813 in Houston, down $10,662 (14%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 270 in Houston, up 177 points (190%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Houston rent is 20% cheaper than Tampa
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Houston is 20% 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 $4,080, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Tampa's median income is 16% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Tampa (about $10,662 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, Tampa 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
66% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 66% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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 Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa 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
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% 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
Tampa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($75,475). Start with Tampa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 66% lower than Houston (93 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 Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 32 safety points for housing savings.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $64,813 in Houston.
Pick Tampa when you want the stronger safety signal (62/100). Otherwise, Houston's case rests on a Houston ZIP you trust at $1,361 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tampa when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Tampa, plus other cities in TX and FL.
