Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Austin leads 17 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $311k less ($461,500 vs $772,700)
15% less violent crime than San Leandro
Rent averages $448/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,997)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails San Leandro by $10,585/yr
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 97°F
Households earn $10,585 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Violent Crime
15% lower
466.9 vs 548.7 per 100k
Austin
Median Home Value
$311k less
$461,500 vs $772,700
Austin
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
25.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$10,585
$97,141 vs $86,556/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Austin is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 17 of 23 categories. Austin wins 17 and San Leandro 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $772,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and San Leandro, CA are about 1,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.