Houston, TX vs Los Altos, 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Los Altos
67.9
#1370 nationally
Los Altos leads in median household income ($250,001 vs $57,791). Los Altos leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 28.5 min). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 46).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Los Altos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 67.9 (#1370) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 29,990 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $4,601,729 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $250,001 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 22.8 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 46 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 2.1 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+40.0 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
D+
67.9 Score
Los Altos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$4,601,729
Population
29,990
Crime
Low
Walk Score
46
Pacific
View Los Altos, CA →
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