City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,361 in Houston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Houston and Toledo. Houston averages 70°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,361 versus $934.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo costs less and Houston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Toledo are 1,054 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $934 a month in Toledo, down $427 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $62,224 in Toledo, down $2,589 (4%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 221 in Toledo, down 49 points (18%).
The move
Toledo and Houston are 1,054 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,361 a month in Houston, up $427 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $64,813 in Houston, up $2,589 (4%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 270 in Houston, up 49 points (22%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Toledo rent is 31% cheaper than Houston
Houston
$1,361/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,361 in Houston, so Toledo is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $427/month back in your pocket ($5,124/year). Over five years that's $25,620 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 Houston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Houston's median income is 4% higher than Toledo
Houston
Winner$64,813
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Houston (about $2,589 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
18% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 18% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
64% more comfortable
Houston weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Houston scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 4% higher ($64,813), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Houston (221 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,361/month rent in Houston at 70°F versus $934 in Toledo at 51°F. Income runs $64,813 vs $62,224, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Houston still pays more locally ($64,813 median income vs $62,224), which can offset the lease if your field pays Houston rates.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Houston and 36/100 in Toledo.
Houston wins on climate (70°F vs 51°F); Toledo is the better fit if $934 rent and $62,224 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Toledo, plus other cities in TX and OH.
