🧠Relocation Route
Austin → Houston
Austin, TX vs Houston, TX: Census ACS and BEA price parities
How does the cost of living in Austin, TX compare to Houston? Moving from Austin, TX to Houston means median owner-occupied home values are about 51% lower in Houston ($253,400 vs $512,700 in Austin), and Texas does not levy an individual income tax. Median household income is $91,461 in Austin vs $62,894 in Houston. Across all goods and services, the Houston metro's overall price level is 98.6 against a US average of 100, versus 98.1 for Austin (about 1% more expensive).
Cost & Income Comparison
| Metric | Austin | Houston | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value | $512,700 | $253,400 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Median household income | $91,461 | $62,894 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Median gross rent | $1,655 | $1,313 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Overall price level (US average = 100) | 98.1 | 98.6 | US Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional) |
| Population | 967,862 | 2,300,419 | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
The Texas Tax Advantage. Texas does not levy an individual income tax; for movers from a state that has one, that is a meaningful raise. Estimate your savings →