Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Houston leads 14 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Miami
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($235,000 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $259/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,494)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Households earn $5,582 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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 5.0%)
Miami, FL
Pros
59% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 63°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Income
$5,582
$60,440 vs $54,858/yr
Houston
Median Home Value
$199k less
$235,000 vs $433,900
Houston
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 87.8°F
Miami
Violent Crime
59% lower
473.3 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Miami
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $54,858 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 443,665 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Houston is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 14 of 22 categories. Houston wins 14 and Miami wins 8. 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 Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $433,900 median home), income ($60,440 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Miami, FL are about 968 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.