Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $17,223 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 102°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
St. George, UT
Pros
55% less violent crime than Austin
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Homes cost $46k less ($415,200 vs $461,500)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $17,223/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$17,223
$86,556 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
55% lower
210.0 vs 466.9 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$46k less
$415,200 vs $461,500
St. George
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.4% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 96.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 8 and St. George wins 15. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $415,200 median home), income ($86,556 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and St. George, UT are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.