Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 22 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Evansville
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $36,703 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Evansville
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 42°F
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
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($121,100 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $632/mo less ($917 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $36,703/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$36,703
$86,556 vs $49,853/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
61% lower
466.9 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 89.0°F
Evansville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$340k less
$121,100 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 89.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 10.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 116,906 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 22 categories. Austin wins 14 and Evansville wins 8. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $121,100 median home), income ($86,556 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Evansville, IN are about 789 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.