Austin, TX vs Salinas, 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
Salinas
63.5
#1766 nationally
Salinas leads in walk score (55 vs 42). Austin leads in cost of living index (129 vs 149). Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $84,250).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 63.5 (#1766) |
| Population | 967,862 | 159,506 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $753,868 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $84,250 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 55 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 14.4 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 149 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+29.9 |
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
63.5 Score
Salinas, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$753,868
Population
159,506
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
55
Pacific
View Salinas, CA →