Austin, TX vs Wheeling, IL
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
Wheeling
77.3
#265 nationally
Wheeling leads in cost of living index (104 vs 129). Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $80,054). Wheeling leads in walk score (44 vs 42).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Wheeling, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 77.3 (#265) |
| Population | 967,862 | 37,725 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $321,656 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $80,054 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 44 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 1.7 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 104 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+42.0 |
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 →
C+
77.3 Score
Wheeling, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$321,656
Population
37,725
Crime
Low
Walk Score
44
Midwest
View Wheeling, IL →
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