Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 13 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Houston
Texas
9
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $4,039 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.6%)
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($235,000 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.6%)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,385)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $4,039/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$4,039
$64,479 vs $60,440/yr
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
55% lower
518.1 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Houston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$231k less
$235,000 vs $466,300
Houston
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 13 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 13 and Houston wins 9. 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 Arden-Arcade to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $235,000 median home), income ($64,479 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Houston, TX are about 1,599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.