Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Houston
Texas
9
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $48,828 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Houston
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($235,000 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $673/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $48,828/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$48,828
$109,268 vs $60,440/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$159k less
$235,000 vs $393,700
Houston
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 11 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 Germantown to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $235,000 median home), income ($109,268 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Houston, TX are about 1,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.