Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Greensboro leads 16 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
297,202
Houston
Texas
7
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.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
20% less violent crime than Houston
Homes cost $38k less ($197,200 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,235)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Houston by $5,389/yr
Houston, TX
Pros
Households earn $5,389 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 50°F
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Greensboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Violent Crime
20% lower
923.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$38k less
$197,200 vs $235,000
Greensboro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Income
$5,389
$60,440 vs $55,051/yr
Houston
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $60,440 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 16 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 16 and Houston wins 7. 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 Greensboro to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $235,000 median home), income ($55,051 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Houston, TX are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.