Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Austin leads 17 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202
New York
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($461,500 vs $732,100)
30% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.4%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
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
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New York, NY
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$9,949
$86,556 vs $76,607/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
30% lower
466.9 vs 671.0 per 100k
Austin
Median Home Value
$271k less
$461,500 vs $732,100
Austin
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 17 of 23 categories. Austin wins 17 and New York wins 6. 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 York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $732,100 median home), income ($86,556 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and New York, NY are about 1,512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.