Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 13 of 22 categories
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
Huntington Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $742k less ($235,000 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1083/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,318)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $54,307/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 5.4%)
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,307 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Houston
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Houston
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$742k less
$235,000 vs $976,800
Houston
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$54,307
$114,747 vs $60,440/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
82% lower
207.3 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 13 of 22 categories. Houston wins 9 and Huntington Beach wins 13. 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 Houston to Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $976,800 median home), income ($60,440 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.