Austin, TX vs Palo Alto, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Palo Alto
67.4
#1429 nationally
Palo Alto leads in median household income ($214,118 vs $91,461). Palo Alto leads in walk score (61 vs 42). Palo Alto leads in average commute (23.9 min vs 26.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Palo Alto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 67.4 (#1429) |
| Population | 967,862 | 65,882 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $3,599,324 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $214,118 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 23.9 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 61 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 5.8 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+40.0 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
D+
67.4 Score
Palo Alto, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$3,599,324
Population
65,882
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Palo Alto, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Austin for: