Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 New Braunfels leads 17 of 22 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Norwalk
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($290,800 vs $593,100)
58% less violent crime than Norwalk
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,860)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $5,432/yr
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 62°F
Households earn $5,432 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than New Braunfels
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
58% lower
156.4 vs 374.4 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$302k less
$290,800 vs $593,100
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$5,432
$91,259 vs $85,827/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 17 of 22 categories. New Braunfels wins 17 and Norwalk wins 5. 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 New Braunfels to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $593,100 median home), income ($85,827 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Norwalk, CA are about 1,206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.