Austin → Houston
Austin, TX vs Houston, TX: Census ACS and BEA price parities
Cost & Income Comparison
| Metric | Austin | Houston | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value | $512,700 (2023) | $253,400 (2023) | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Median household income | $91,461 (2023) | $62,894 (2023) | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Median gross rent | $1,655 (2023) | $1,313 (2023) | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
| Overall price level (US average = 100) | 98.1 (2024) | 98.6 (2024) | US Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional) |
| Population | 967,862 (2023) | 2,300,419 (2023) | US Census ACS, US Census ACS |
Questions about moving to Houston
On the housing measures on this page, yes: median home values about 51% lower ($253,400 (2023) vs $512,700 (2023)) and median gross rent about 21% lower ($1,313 (2023) vs $1,655 (2023)), all 2023 ACS 5-year estimates, with both sides linked in the table below. The overall price level row compares the whole basket of goods and services, and incomes differ between the metros too, so weigh the rows that match your actual budget.
Median gross rent is about 21% lower: $1,313 (2023) in Houston against $1,655 (2023) in Austin (2023 ACS 5-year estimates, both sides linked below). A rent median blends every apartment type and size, so your own number depends on what you rent.
There is no honest single number, because it depends on what you spend on. Housing is the line that moves most between the two metros, and for context the area medians sit at $62,894 (2023) in Houston vs $91,461 (2023) in Austin (2023 ACS 5-year estimates). Texas levies no individual income tax; this page gives no tax advice, and taxes beyond income can change with a move. The practical method: price your own rent and housing mix in both columns of the table below, and treat the difference as the adjustment a move needs. Match Houston areas to your commute and budget