Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
San Antonio
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
87% less violent crime than San Antonio
Households earn $42,172 more per year on average
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($198,000 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $163/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,352)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $42,172/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$42,172
$101,765 vs $59,593/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 594.1 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$168k less
$198,000 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 14 and San Antonio 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 Hoover to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $198,000 median home), income ($101,765 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and San Antonio, TX are about 741 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.