Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 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
South Fulton
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Rent averages $226/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,461)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 54°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Fulton by $17,048/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Fulton, GA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $17,048 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.6%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 90.1°F
South Fulton
Median Income
$17,048
$77,488 vs $60,440/yr
South Fulton
Violent Crime
59% lower
470.5 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 | $242,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs South Fulton'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 South Fulton 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $242,200 median home), income ($60,440 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and South Fulton, GA are about 688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.