Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 New Braunfels leads 19 of 23 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Tacoma
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $125k less ($290,800 vs $415,300)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than New Braunfels
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$6,742
$85,827 vs $79,085/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
85% lower
156.4 vs 1063.0 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$125k less
$290,800 vs $415,300
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 19 of 23 categories. New Braunfels wins 19 and Tacoma wins 4. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $415,300 median home), income ($85,827 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Tacoma, WA are about 1,776 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.