Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 15 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $649k less ($235,000 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1387/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,622)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $76,130/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 4.4%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $76,130 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/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
$649k less
$235,000 vs $883,600
Houston
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$76,130
$136,570 vs $60,440/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
91% lower
99.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 15 of 22 categories. Houston wins 7 and Mission Viejo wins 15. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $883,600 median home), income ($60,440 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.