Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 20 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Germantown by $22,712/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $22,712 more per year on average
Homes cost $68k less ($393,700 vs $461,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Austin
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.3°F
Germantown
Median Income
$22,712
$109,268 vs $86,556/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$68k less
$393,700 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 20 categories. Austin wins 13 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $393,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Germantown, MD are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.