Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
37% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $23,555 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
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
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($321,800 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,549)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $23,555/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$23,555
$86,556 vs $63,001/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
37% lower
466.9 vs 735.5 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Median Home Value
$140k less
$321,800 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 541,528 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and Fresno 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 Austin to Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $321,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Fresno, CA are about 1,342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.