Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Toledo leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Households earn $15,035 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($98,800 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $381/mo less ($854 vs $1,235)
9% less violent crime than Houston
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Houston by $15,035/yr
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Income
$15,035
$60,440 vs $45,405/yr
Houston
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Violent Crime
9% lower
1041.1 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Toledo
Median Home Value
$136k less
$98,800 vs $235,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ 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 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toledo leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 10 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $98,800 median home), income ($60,440 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Toledo, OH are about 1,052 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.