Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
San Leandro
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $538k less ($235,000 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $762/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,997)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $36,701/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 5.0%)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,701 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$538k less
$235,000 vs $772,700
Houston
Summer Heat
21.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$36,701
$97,141 vs $60,440/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
52% lower
548.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 187⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 84.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Houston wins 11 and San Leandro 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $772,700 median home), income ($60,440 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and San Leandro, CA are about 1,626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.