City comparison
No. Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 221 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lubbock is cheaper. Median rent is $1,182 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
San Antonio and Lubbock are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,182 in Lubbock, and median household income lands at $65,056 versus $60,895. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lubbock costs less and San Antonio 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.
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
San Antonio and Lubbock are 349 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, down $142 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $4,161 (6%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 189 in Lubbock, down 23 points (11%).
The move
Lubbock and San Antonio are 349 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $142 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $4,161 (7%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 212 in San Antonio, up 23 points (12%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Lubbock rent is 11% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Lubbock
Winner$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,182 a month in Lubbock versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Lubbock is 11% 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 $1,704, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lubbock still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Antonio.
Planning to buy in Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
San Antonio's median income is 7% higher than Lubbock
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Lubbock
$60,895
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 7% higher in San Antonio (about $4,161 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
11% lower crime
Lubbock's crime index is 11% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
Winner189 (100 = avg)
Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Lubbock. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lubbock, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Antonio. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 9% more comfortable than Lubbock
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lubbock
62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lubbock averages around 62°F. San Antonio scores 9% 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 Lubbock 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 7% higher ($65,056), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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
Lubbock is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,182 a month. Choose Lubbock if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lubbock is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than San Antonio (189 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,182/month in Lubbock versus $1,324 in San Antonio. Median income reads $60,895 in Lubbock and $65,056 in San Antonio, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Lubbock rent at $1,182/month is still below San Antonio's $1,324, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 72°F in San Antonio and 62°F in Lubbock.
Lubbock clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. San Antonio deserves a serious look only when your $65,056 income offer in San Antonio outweighs saving $142/month in Lubbock.
With rent only $142 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($65,056 vs $60,895) and safety (37/100 vs 41/100) break the tie.
Common questions
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