Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Charlotte leads 14 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
36% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $13,630 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($235,000 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,399)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charlotte by $13,630/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$13,630
$74,070 vs $60,440/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
36% lower
733.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Home Value
$78k less
$235,000 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 14 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 14 and Houston wins 9. 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 Charlotte to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $235,000 median home), income ($74,070 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Houston, TX are about 926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.