Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($235,000 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,371)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Raleigh by $18,191/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
57% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $18,191 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Home Value
$112k less
$235,000 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$18,191
$78,631 vs $60,440/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
57% lower
488.8 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 465,517 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Houston wins 8 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $347,000 median home), income ($60,440 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,057 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.