Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253
New York
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $497k less ($235,000 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $16,167/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New York, NY
Pros
42% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $16,167 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$497k less
$235,000 vs $732,100
Houston
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Median Income
$16,167
$76,607 vs $60,440/yr
New York
Violent Crime
42% lower
671.0 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 10 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $732,100 median home), income ($60,440 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and New York, NY are about 1,419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.