Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Houston leads 12 of 22 categories
Anaheim
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
347,111
Houston
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $28,098 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 63°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($235,000 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $723/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,958)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $28,098/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$28,098
$88,538 vs $60,440/yr
Anaheim
Violent Crime
48% lower
596.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Anaheim
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$479k less
$235,000 vs $713,600
Houston
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 79.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 62.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 12 of 22 categories. Anaheim wins 10 and Houston wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $235,000 median home), income ($88,538 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Houston, TX are about 1,340 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.