Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Houston leads 12 of 22 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
West Covina
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($235,000 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $819/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,054)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $35,779/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
West Covina, CA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $35,779 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Houston
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$430k less
$235,000 vs $664,500
West Covina
Median Income
$35,779
$96,219 vs $60,440/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
79% lower
239.3 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 100 ✓ 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 | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 12 of 22 categories. Houston wins 12 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $664,500 median home), income ($60,440 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and West Covina, CA are about 1,350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.