City comparison
No. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 169 in New York, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 195, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
The income gap between New York and Austin is significant: $80,483 median household versus $93,658. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,821 in New York and $1,729 in Austin.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. New York makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
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
New York and Austin are 1,511 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $92 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $93,658 in Austin, up $13,175 (16%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 162 in Austin, down 7 points (4%).
The move
Austin and New York are 1,511 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,821 a month in New York, up $92 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $80,483 in New York, down $13,175 (14%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 169 in New York, up 7 points (4%).
New York, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New York and Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Austin rent is 5% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $1,821 in New York, so Austin is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $92, or $1,104 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 Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Austin's median income is 16% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Austin
Winner$93,658
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Austin (about $13,175 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, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. New York can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 4% lower than New York
New York
169 (100 = avg)
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 169 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Austin. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Austin, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in New York. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Austin weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs). New York averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Austin scores 25% 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 New York if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New York
On these five categories Austin takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose New York because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose New York 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 16% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than New York (162 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
Austin runs 76°F typical weather against 58°F in New York (comfort scores 100 vs 80). Housing is $1,729/month versus $1,821/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $92 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 44/100 in New York and 45/100 in Austin.
If climate drives your move, New York is the stronger match (58°F typical weather versus 76°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Austin, treat $1,729/month rent and $93,658 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Austin, plus other cities in NY and TX.
