Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Houston leads 14 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($235,000 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,489)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°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 Tacoma by $18,645/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $18,645 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$180k less
$235,000 vs $415,300
Houston
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$18,645
$79,085 vs $60,440/yr
Tacoma
Violent Crime
7% lower
1063.0 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 280⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Houston is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 14 of 23 categories. Houston wins 14 and Tacoma wins 9. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Tacoma, WA are about 1,880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.