Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Santa Clara
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1149k less ($290,800 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1415/mo less ($1,426 vs $2,841)
14% less violent crime than Santa Clara
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $79,525/yr
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $79,525 more per year on average
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than New Braunfels
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
14% lower
156.4 vs 182.0 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$1149k less
$290,800 vs $1,440,200
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$79,525
$165,352 vs $85,827/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 categories. New Braunfels wins 14 and Santa Clara wins 8. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($85,827 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,467 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.