Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Conroe, TX
🏆 Austin leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Conroe
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $14,926 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Conroe, TX
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($262,500 vs $461,500)
48% less violent crime than Austin
Rent averages $294/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,549)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $14,926/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$14,926
$86,556 vs $71,630/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
48% lower
243.5 vs 466.9 per 100k
Conroe
Median Home Value
$199k less
$262,500 vs $461,500
Conroe
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Conroe, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $262,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $71,630 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 51.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 92,475 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Conroe's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Austin is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin wins 12 and Conroe wins 11. 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 Austin to Conroe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $262,500 median home), income ($86,556 vs $71,630), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Conroe, TX are about 135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.