Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Houston leads 12 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Households earn $15,996 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($111,200 vs $235,000)
11% less violent crime than Houston
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Houston by $15,996/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Income
$15,996
$60,440 vs $44,444/yr
Houston
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.2% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Violent Crime
11% lower
1025.9 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Trenton
Median Home Value
$124k less
$111,200 vs $235,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Houston is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 12 of 22 categories. Houston wins 12 and Trenton wins 10. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $111,200 median home), income ($60,440 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Trenton, NJ are about 1,367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.