Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($461,500 vs $879,900)
40% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,945)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $29,512/yr
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
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $29,512 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Violent Crime
40% lower
466.9 vs 775.1 per 100k
Austin
Median Home Value
$418k less
$461,500 vs $879,900
Austin
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$29,512
$116,068 vs $86,556/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 734,603 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $879,900 median home), income ($86,556 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Seattle, WA are about 1,769 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.