Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
44% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Households earn $15,189 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($368,800 vs $461,500)
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Austin
Median income trails Austin by $15,189/yr
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 Income
$15,189
$86,556 vs $71,367/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
44% lower
466.9 vs 834.7 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$93k less
$368,800 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 and Lancaster 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $368,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Lancaster, CA are about 1,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.