Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Detroit, MI
🏆 Austin leads 16 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Detroit
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $48,795 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 10.3 pts lower (4.4%)
74% less violent crime than Detroit
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 33°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $395k less ($66,700 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($989 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $48,795/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$48,795
$86,556 vs $37,761/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
74% lower
466.9 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
10.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 14.7% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.1°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Detroit
Median Home Value
$395k less
$66,700 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Detroit, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $66,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $989 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $37,761 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 14.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 469⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Detroit Public Schools Community District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 34.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 636,787 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 48.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Detroit's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 16 of 23 categories. Austin wins 16 and Detroit wins 7. 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 Detroit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $66,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $37,761), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Detroit, MI are about 1,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.