Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Eugene leads 13 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Houston
Texas
10
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
72% less violent crime than Houston
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Houston
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($235,000 vs $406,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$1,041
$61,481 vs $60,440/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
72% lower
317.9 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Houston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$171k less
$235,000 vs $406,000
Houston
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 13 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 13 and Houston 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 Eugene to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $235,000 median home), income ($61,481 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Houston, TX are about 1,808 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.