Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Chandler leads 16 of 22 categories
Chandler
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618
Houston
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
88% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $38,934 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($235,000 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,675)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $38,934/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Median Income
$38,934
$99,374 vs $60,440/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
88% lower
133.4 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.2°F
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$189k less
$235,000 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 62.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 16 of 22 categories. Chandler wins 16 and Houston 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 Chandler to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $235,000 median home), income ($99,374 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Houston, TX are about 998 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.