Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
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
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($290,800 vs $461,500)
67% less violent crime than Austin
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Rent averages $123/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,549)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$729
$86,556 vs $85,827/yr
Austin
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 93.4°F
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
67% lower
156.4 vs 466.9 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$171k less
$290,800 vs $461,500
New Braunfels
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $85,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 9 and New Braunfels wins 14. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $290,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and New Braunfels, TX are about 47 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.