Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Tampa
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
54% less violent crime than Tampa
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $37k less ($296,100 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $158/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,422)
Households earn $5,119 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Median income trails Denton by $5,119/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$5,119
$71,921 vs $66,802/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
54% lower
204.2 vs 444.6 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$37k less
$296,100 vs $333,200
Denton
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Denton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 13 and Tampa wins 10. 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 Denton to Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $333,200 median home), income ($71,921 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Tampa, FL are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.