Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Houston leads 12 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,402)
Households earn $6,135 more per year on average
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
New Haven, CT
Pros
53% less violent crime than Houston
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Median income trails Houston by $6,135/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Income
$6,135
$60,440 vs $54,305/yr
Houston
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Violent Crime
53% lower
534.8 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ 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 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 12 of 23 categories. Houston wins 12 and New Haven wins 11. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $236,500 median home), income ($60,440 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and New Haven, CT are about 1,486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.