Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($181,600 vs $337,500)
Rent averages $493/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,586)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $33,154/yr
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $33,154 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Lubbock
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$156k less
$181,600 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$33,154
$91,888 vs $58,734/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
84% lower
130.7 vs 821.0 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 92.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 8 and Round Rock wins 15. 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 Lubbock to Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $337,500 median home), income ($58,734 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Round Rock, TX are about 325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.