Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
77% less violent crime than Houston
Homes cost $75k less ($159,600 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $315/mo less ($920 vs $1,235)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Houston by $6,301/yr
Houston, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $6,301 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Edinburg
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
77% lower
269.6 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$75k less
$159,600 vs $235,000
Edinburg
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 93.2°F
Houston
Median Income
$6,301
$60,440 vs $54,139/yr
Houston
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $60,440 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 62.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg 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 Edinburg to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $235,000 median home), income ($54,139 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Houston, TX are about 293 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.