Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Austin leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $515k less ($461,500 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $769/mo less ($1,549 vs $2,318)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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 Huntington Beach by $28,191/yr
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $28,191 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$515k less
$461,500 vs $976,800
Austin
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$28,191
$114,747 vs $86,556/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
56% lower
207.3 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 16.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin wins 12 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $976,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.