Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Houston leads 14 of 22 categories
Hesperia
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Houston
Texas
14
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $7,258 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,600
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,436/mo
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.6%)
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($235,000 vs $337,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,436)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Hesperia
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
Median income trails Hesperia by $7,258/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Median Income
$7,258
$67,698 vs $60,440/yr
Hesperia
Violent Crime
55% lower
519.6 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Hesperia
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 93.2°F
Houston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$103k less
$235,000 vs $337,600
Houston
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 79.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 14 of 22 categories. Hesperia wins 8 and Houston wins 14. 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 Hesperia to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $235,000 median home), income ($67,698 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Houston, TX are about 1,320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.