Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
28% less violent crime than Redding
Households earn $19,233 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 57°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($343,000 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Austin by $19,233/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$19,233
$86,556 vs $67,323/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
28% lower
466.9 vs 647.8 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Median Home Value
$119k less
$343,000 vs $461,500
Redding
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 96.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Austin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin wins 13 and Redding wins 10. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $343,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Redding, CA are about 1,549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.