Houston, TX vs Tampa, FL
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
Tampa
69.8
#1172 nationally
Tampa leads in school rating (6.2 vs 5.5). Tampa leads in median household income ($62,537 vs $57,791). Tampa leads in average commute (26.4 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 69.8 (#1172) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 403,364 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $380,300 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $62,537 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 26.4 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 48 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | Moderate |
| School Rating | 5.5 | 6.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 103 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+3.1 |
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+
69.8 Score
Tampa, FL
Gulf Coast metropolis on the rise
Median Home
$380,300
Population
403,364
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Tampa, FL →