Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 13 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($235,000 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,940)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $51,825/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,825 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Houston
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$362k less
$235,000 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$51,825
$112,265 vs $60,440/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
81% lower
219.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Houston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roseville leads 13 of 22 categories. Houston wins 9 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $596,700 median home), income ($60,440 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Roseville, CA are about 1,598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.