Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Houston leads 12 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
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 $293,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°F
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
Providence, RI
Pros
76% less violent crime than Houston
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$58k less
$235,000 vs $293,000
Houston
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Income
$925
$61,365 vs $60,440/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
76% lower
276.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Houston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 12 of 23 categories. Houston wins 12 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $293,000 median home), income ($60,440 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Providence, RI are about 1,572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.