Austin, TX vs Waukee, IA
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
Waukee
77.3
#263 nationally
Waukee leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 26.8 min). Waukee leads in cost of living index (106 vs 129). Waukee leads in median household income ($106,846 vs $91,461).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Waukee, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 77.3 (#263) |
| Population | 967,862 | 31,645 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $343,274 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $106,846 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 3.9 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | R+4.8 |
Data coverage note: Waukee is missing data for 1 metric that Austin has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
C+
77.3 Score
Waukee, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$343,274
Population
31,645
Crime
Low
Median Income
$106,846
Midwest
View Waukee, IA →