Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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 7% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
63% less violent crime than Houston
Homes cost $49k less ($186,500 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Income
$1,128
$60,440 vs $59,312/yr
Houston
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
63% lower
423.6 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$49k less
$186,500 vs $235,000
Yuma
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 93.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 22 categories. Houston wins 8 and Yuma wins 14. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $186,500 median home), income ($60,440 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Yuma, AZ are about 1,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.