Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Pompano Beach, FL
🏆 Houston leads 11 of 19 categories
Houston
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pompano Beach
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,155 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
111,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($235,000 vs $293,300)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,527)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Pompano Beach
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Pompano Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 63°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,527/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Houston
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$58k less
$235,000 vs $293,300
Houston
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.7% unemployment
Pompano Beach
Median Income
$715
$61,155 vs $60,440/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Pompano Beach, 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 | $293,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,527⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $61,155 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 85.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" ✓ Drier | 55.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 111,790 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Pompano Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Houston is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Houston leads 11 of 19 categories. Houston wins 11 and Pompano Beach 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 Pompano Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $293,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $61,155), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Pompano Beach, FL are about 961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.